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)