Pamit, BRI Closes All Its Office Operations In Aceh

JAKARTA - PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk will close all banking operations in Aceh in order to follow up the implementation of Qanun Sharia Financial Institution number 11 of 2018.

"Alhamdulillah Bank BRI has transferred the entire portfolio and banking services to Bank BRIsyariah," said Regional Leader of Bank BRI Aceh Province, Wawan Ruswanto in Banda Aceh, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, April 14.

He explained that BRI has received the Principle Permit for Closing 11 Branch Offices and Regional Offices, but is still waiting for the Closing Implementation Permit from OJK Jakarta.

"After obtaining the Closing Implementation Permit, BRI was given 30 working days to carry out the closure of office operations," he said.

He said the transfer process has been taking place since July 2019 and ended in December 2020. He mentioned that almost the entire loan and savings portfolio has been transferred, where about 92 percent of the loan portfolio and 85 percent of the deposit portfolio have been booked at Bank BRIsyariah.

According to him, there is still a portfolio of loans that are not transferred, including Non Performing Loan and Delete Book with the amount of about 8 percent of the total loan.

He said there is a small percentage of debtors who ask to be booked in medan area and the remaining loans will then be managed by BRI Functional Office until it is completed or transferred to the Asset Management Company (PPA).

As for Deposits, there are about 15 percent of the total deposits that have not been transferred, including Special Account Savings for recipients of Government Assistance.

He added that in accordance with the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then all Government Assistance in Aceh Province will not be distributed by Bank BRI. The assistance will be distributed by Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) and PT POS.

He mentioned that all offices and E-channels of Bank BRI have been transferred to BSI, namely 11 Branch Offices, 15 Sub-Branch Offices and 94 BRI Units. As for e-channel, there are 444 ATMs that have been used by BSI.

The number of human resources that have been absorbed to run the BSI Office above is about 69 percent including those placed in regional offices and branches. While another 31 percent of human resources continue to work at BRI outside Aceh, at the Aceh Functional Office, and a small percentage submit voluntary resignations.

Wawan said that in connection with the steps taken by Bank BRI, it expressed its gratitude to all stakeholders of Bank BRI, especially to the Aceh Provincial Government, The Governor of Aceh, Bank Indonesia and the Financial Services Authority, Institutions and Vertical Institutions, the entire Aceh Community.

"Thank you for all the support and assistance that has been given to Bank BRI during its mission as an MSME partner in Aceh Province," he said.

It hopes that the implementation of Qanun Sharia Financial Institutions in Aceh Province can be a role model for the application of Sharia Economy in the world, with all its advantages and disadvantages.

"We also hope that Bank BRIsyariah / BSI can continue the role of Bank BRI in helping MSMEs and the distribution of Government Assistance," wawan said.