JAKARTA. The massive government projects have driven the credit allocation of some major banks, mainly the state owned banks such as Bank Rakyat Indonesia, (BRI), Bank Mandiri, Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN), and Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI). The banks recorded increases in credit allocation during the third quarter of 2016.

As of September 2016, BRI booked a 16.3% of credit growth to IDR603.47 trillion compared with the same period in 2015. In this period, micro credit contributed to 20.3% or IDR204.8 trillion of the total credit allocations. Government program, which is People’s Business Credit (KUR) contributed to 25.67% or IDR52.58 trillion of total micro credits allocations.

Meanwhile, Bank Mandiri booked a 11.5% of credit growth to IDR625.1 trillion during the same period. Micro credit contributed to the highest credit growth by growing by 16.7% to IDR46.7 trillion. The bank has allocated IDR8.79 trillion of KUR or equal with 18.81% of total micro credits.

Aside of subsidy credit, state owned banks also benefitte from government infrastructure projects. Bank Mandiri recorded a 14.2% of corporate credit growth, while BRI allocated a worth of IDR26.37 trillion of infrastructure projects credits.

The achievements may cover the potential losses from the ratio of non-performing loans (NPLs). Therefore, BRI can secure an 1.84% of net profit to IDR18.62 trillion, while the allowance for impairment losses (CKPN) increased by 27.83% to IDR22.31 trillion.

The government programs also causes Bank Mandiri could minimize the decline in net profits by 17.6% to IDR12.01 trillion. The bank itself allocated IDR16 trillion of CKPN at the end of third quarter of 2016. Bank Mandiri plans to increase the CKPN by IDR20 trillion by the end of this year.

“The net profits are expected to decrase, but not as sharp as in the third quarter”, said President Director of Bank Mandiri Kartika Wirjoatmodjo on Tuesday (25/10).

Kartika said that BRI sets to have a 12% of credit growth by the end of 2016, while President Director of BRI Asmawi Syam mentioned that BRI sees to 13%-14% of credit growth.

Aside of BRI and Bank Mandiri, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) also secured significant credit growth, thanks to government infrastructure programs. By the end of third quarter of 2016, the segment of state owned enterprises (SOEs) credit grew by 32.1% to IDR70.97 trillion. The demand for SOEs credit also became the backbone of corporate credit, which grew by 19.5% to IDR179.07 trillion by the end of September 2016.

Meanwhile, one million housing project had boosted credit allocations of Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN). As of September 2016, the credit allocation of BTN increased by 16.9% to IDR153.8 trillion.

As a comparison, some private banks were struggling to speed up credit allocation. For an example, Bank Danamon during the third quarter of 2016 secured a 33% of profits to IDR2.5 trillion, while its credit allocation dropped by 9% to IDR121.6 trillion. Danamon could secure the net profits thanks to commission incomes that increased by 9% to IDR3.04 trillion.

(Muhammad Farid/Translator)

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie