Ramadan as a Moment for Financial Reflection
Jakarta — Ramadan is a blessed month and a period eagerly anticipated by many. During this time, economic activity increases sharply alongside traditions of breaking the fast together, shopping for Eid needs, and homecoming journeys.
However, beneath this festivity lies an often-unrecognised phenomenon: increased pressure on household finances precisely during a month that should teach balance and self-control. Surges in expenditure frequently deplete year-end bonuses (THR) without clear planning.
Rather than strengthening financial conditions, many families enter the post-Eid period with weakened cash flow. Yet Ramadan can serve as an ideal moment for financial reflection, reordering priorities between consumption, charitable giving, and sustainable household financial management in a more prudent manner.
Romy H. Buchari, Director of Islamic Banking at PT Bank Maybank Indonesia Tbk, views this phenomenon as reflecting changing financial behaviour amongst modern Indonesian society, where increased consumption often occurs without preparation for long-term financial planning.
He advocated for solutions enabling Ramadan to become a momentum for people to maintain consistent balance between consumption activities through sound financial planning.
“Ramadan is indeed synonymous with increased consumption activity, but we believe Ramadan should also be a moment for financial reflection,” he stated in an official statement on Friday (27 February 2026).
Romy explained that in Islamic principles, balance or wasathiyah is the key amongst priorities to meet needs, give to others, and maintain household financial sustainability. He therefore encouraged customers to use Ramadan as an appropriate time to reorder financial priorities, including strengthening emergency funds, managing cash flow, and planning medium-term needs such as education and Islamic investment.
As part of Maybank Islamic Berhad, one of the region’s largest Islamic financial institutions, Maybank Indonesia’s Islamic business unit continues to provide more contextual financial education during Ramadan, both through digital content and direct advisory, so that people not only increase consumption but also improve the quality of their financial planning.
“Thus, Ramadan is a momentum to build financial resilience, not merely to drive increased transactions,” Romy stressed.
This phenomenon is not limited to Ramadan. From a broader perspective, Indonesia’s middle class recently appears increasingly settled in lifestyle terms, yet structurally increasingly vulnerable. The percentage of families with emergency funds continues to decline, indicating a gap between rising income and readiness to face risks.
Romy stated that this phenomenon reflects a new reality, where many young people, including middle-class families, find themselves in a situation of being “sufficient in income, but fragile in planning”. Consequently, the lifestyle of many people has improved, yet family protection, emergency funds, children’s education, and inheritance planning remain unprioritised.
Thus, when one family member faces a crisis, it can directly shake the stability of the entire household.
To address this issue, Romy said Maybank Indonesia offers Shariah Wealth Management (MySWM), which serves as a comprehensive planning solution for modern Muslim families covering protection, emergency funds, Islamic investment, and multi-generational inheritance planning.
“This becomes a new phase where Islamic banking is no longer merely pursuing asset growth, but building long-term advisory relationships to help families create robust financial resilience aligned with their individual life values,” Romy explained.
In the context of rising income amongst young people and the middle class, Maybank Indonesia sees a gap in readiness to face risks. Through holistic and value-based financial planning approaches, Maybank Indonesia seeks to help families build stronger and more sustainable foundations.
“Through holistic and value-based financial planning, Shariah Wealth Management can become a sustained life partner for society,” he said.
The service enables Maybank Indonesia to provide comprehensive assistance covering emergency funds, protection, Islamic investment, and inheritance planning, ensuring every financial decision aligns with life objectives and Islamic principles. MySWM can also serve as an innovative Islamic solution for young families and affluent Muslim generations.
“By presenting relevant and integrated Islamic solutions for young families and affluent Muslim generations, we seek to ensure that Maybank Indonesia becomes a strategic partner in building balanced multi-generational financial resilience between growth and values,” he concluded.