As a financial institution that has been exist in the business of banking services in the country, PT. Bank Central Asia Tbk. (BCA), which is better known as a bank that is more active in urban centers, especially in business, is now starting to work on customers from the general public layer in areas outside the habitat over the years. With this program, the wider community, including in remote areas may hope soon to get low cost of financial services from the Bank through its agents were recruited from the community itself. So in the absence of any branch office BCA services such as saving or withdraw money can be made.
To support the plan, Bank BCA took Indepay Network, a company which has headquarter in Singapore, as a strategic partner. Indepay Network has long experience especially in India in expanding bank services by utilizing its well proven technology in community base banking services. Indepay signed a Cooperation Agreement with Bank BCA this Monday (21/12/05).
Signatories of this cooperation is done in the BCA Building Nusantara, Jalan MH Thamrin, Jakarta. The BCA was represented by the Director of BCA, Suwignyo Budiman and Indepay Network represented Rajib Saha, the CEO of Indepay Network. The signatories also witnessed by Independent Commissioner of BCA, Cyrillus Harinowo, BCA Director, Henry Koenaifi and Vice President of Indepay Network, John Lee.
In his speech after the signing of the cooperation, Suwignyo explained that BCA and Indepay has long been exploring each other to ensure that this cooperation can provide maximum benefits for BCA customers in Indonesia. In fact, to ensure customer service system without branches can be run on the field, the BCA and Indepay create a pilot project in two places namely Grobogan in Central Java anda Cigugur situated in West Java. BCA financial services currently carried out by Bank Agents in both places, among others, the opening and closing of accounts, deposits, cash withdraws, inquiry of account mutation, and checking account balances.
Cooperation with Indepay, according to Suwignyo include the use of technology, control systems and databases. "We do this to reduce trial and errors in using Kartu Layanan BCA or LAKU BCA," said Suwignyo.
Suwignyo added that through the cooperation between BCA and Indepay, financial services to the public through LAKU BCA program can better serve customers in remote area.
"In this early stage we focused on socializing KARTU LAKU BCA to the community in Java and then gradually we will expand to the entire territory of Indonesia," said Suwignyo.
Government policy
What was done by the BCA, Suwignyo explain in his speech, is to support the government's policy as much as possible in implementing Indonesia National Staretgy on involving as much as people in banking financial services.
Rajib Saha, CEO Indepay Network in his remarks estimated that around 82% of Indonesia's population is not currently enjoy banking services. Seeing the need is so great, but realize the magnitude of the costs required and the lack of infrastructure of BCA to conduct services in remote area, since BCA focused on urban banking services for long time, then Indepay provide banking services solutions without having fully rely on the existence of branch offices. Therefore, branchless banking seems to be the best solution at this time, and Indepay Network has substantial experience in various countries in implementing such service.
"So people who are very far from BCA services office can easily open accounts, saving, transferring or withdrawing money from Bank to the distance that can be taken from their homes."