Total banking assets in C. Sulawesi increase

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Customers' savings at state and private banks in Central Sulawesi increased by 21.1 percent to Rp 295 billion (US$32 million) in 2004, but fixed deposits dropped by 19 percent to Rp 124 billion, Bank Indonesia's province branch reported.

Branch head J. Wiwoho said over the weekend that in general, the year-on-year assets of banking in Central Sulawesi, from December 2003 to December 2004, had increased by 14.8 percent from Rp 3.274 trillion to Rp 3.758 trillion.

He also reported that the banks credit portfolio last year sharply increased by 39.2 percent from Rp 1.813 trillion to Rp 2.524 trillion. Some 58.4 percent of the credit was channeled to the small-and medium-sized enterprises, the growth of which increased by 32.9 percent from Rp 1.1 trillion to Rp 1.5 trillion.

Meanwhile, the non-performing loans (NPL) of those banks declined from 4.15 percent to 1.81 percent.

Wiwoho said the province's central bank cash outflow rose by 13.4 percent from Rp 2.216 trillion, while the cash inflow was up by 16.2 percent to Rp 1.799 trillion.

"In 2004, Bank Indonesia Central Sulawesi branch enjoyed a Rp 751 billion net outflow," he said when attending the opening of Bank Muamalat Indonesia Palu branch.