State banks to pay public funds of 16 closed banks

State banks to pay public funds of 16 closed banks

JAKARTA (JP): Three state banks, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Bank
Dagang Negara and Bank Negara Indonesia, will disburse the funds
of 600,000 accounts of the 16 banks closed by the government last
week.

Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) pledged yesterday it would pay
about Rp 1.45 trillion (US$453.12 million) to the customers of
Bank Harapan Sentosa (BHS), Bank Anrico, Bank Kosagraha Semesta
and Bank Industri.

The bank's statement said it would reimburse holders of
398,442 accounts at the four banks, which were forced into
liquidation by the government as part of the International
Monetary Fund's reform package.

Sources from Bank Dagang Negara (BDN) said the bank would pay
back Rp 900 billion in 200,988 accounts at closed-down Sejahtera
Bank Umum, Bank Astria Raya, Bank Guna International, Bank
Jakarta, South East Asia Bank and Bank Umum Majapahit Jaya.

Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) said Thursday it would reimburse
holders of 93,000 accounts at Bank Andromeda, Bank Pacific, Bank
Dwipa Semesta, Bank Citrahasta Dhanamanungal, Bank Mataram
Dhanarta and Bank Pinaesaan.

BNI has yet to disclose the amount of funds to be disbursed.

The government appointed the three state banks last week to
reimburse the funds of small depositors -- those who have less
than Rp 20 million -- at the 16 closed banks, following the
banks' closure.

Depositors can reclaim their savings starting Nov. 13 after
getting the required checks of the paying banks from the
caretakers of the liquidation banks.

BRI said its disbursement would occur at 58 of its branch
offices in 11 provinces. The banks are located in Greater
Jakarta; Bali; North, West, and South Sumatra; West, Central and
East Java; and North and South Sulawesi.

The bank said it would disburse Rp 1.16 trillion to holders of
300,494 BHS accounts, Rp 138.32 billion of 76,983 Anrico
accounts, Rp 6.45 billion of 1,325 Kosagra accounts and Rp 143.87
billion of 19,641 Industri accounts.

BRI suggested that customers of the four liquidated banks open
accounts at its bank to make the disbursement process easier.

BDN will reimburse the funds through 42 of its branches across
the country, 25 of which are located in Jakarta.

Bank Indonesia, the central bank, said in a statement put on
its webpage yesterday that it had provided a 24-hour hot line
service for those seeking information on the liquidation process.

The public can contact Bank Indonesia at 0800 1800 800 toll
free.

Bank customers wanting to know more about receiving their
savings from the liquidated banks through the paying banks should
call 3501979-81 or 3817184, 3817186 or 3817187.

Special questions on how to clear bank drafts issued by the
liquidated banks should be forwarded to 3817922 or 3817929.

And questions on export-import matters should be directed to
3818270.

Those with Internet access can get realtime information on the
liquidation process on Bank Indonesia's website at
http://www.bi.go.id in the "What's New" menu. (das/rid)