Rumours of Haji Isam Taking Over BCA: OJK Issues Statement
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) says it is continuing to monitor the potential effects on banks when their controlling shareholders change. The statement came in response to reports of a possible acquisition of PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BBCA), Indonesia’s largest private bank, by Kalimantan businessman Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, also known as Haji Isam. BCA has previously denied the reports.
Dian Ediana Rae, OJK’s Chief Executive for Banking Supervision, said the authority would assess any transaction that could result in a change of a bank’s controlling shareholder in accordance with applicable regulations.
“If a transaction has the potential to result in a change to a bank’s controlling shareholder, OJK will conduct an assessment in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations,” Dian said in a written statement on Thursday (15 October 2026).
She explained that a change in ownership of a major bank involves more than a share transaction. OJK will also examine its impact on the bank’s risks, concentration of lending, related-party transactions and governance.
OJK will also consider the bank’s relationships with business groups controlled by its shareholders, in order to prevent a build-up of risks that could affect the bank’s condition.
If a significant change of control takes place, OJK will assess its impact on industry competition, business strategy, lending, liquidity, capital and bank governance.
Dian said the stability of the national banking industry was currently underpinned by adequate capital and liquidity, as well as the application of prudential principles.
“Overall, OJK considers that the stability of the national banking industry continues to be supported by adequate capital and liquidity, as well as the application of prudential principles,” she said.
Dian added that OJK would continue to monitor changes in ownership, consolidation and corporate actions in the banking sector to ensure that they were conducted soundly and did not disrupt financial-system stability.
BCA had earlier said that reports of a planned acquisition of its shares were untrue. Social media had recently been abuzz with claims that Haji Isam planned to acquire BBCA shares.
“Regarding the issue circulating on social media about a planned corporate action involving BCA, we can confirm that THIS INFORMATION IS NOT TRUE,” Hera F. Haryn, the bank’s Executive Vice President for Corporate Communication and Social Responsibility, said in a statement on Friday (25 September 2026).
She urged the public to seek credible information from the company’s official website or reliable media outlets.
“We urge customers and the public to access information from official sources, including the company’s official website and credible media outlets,” Hera said.