BNI Syariah to operate as independent bank
State-owned bank PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) has separated its sharia banking unit into an independent entity named PT Bank BNI Syariah, which officially commenced operation on June 17,2010.
BNI president director Gatot said that BNI spins off the sharia banking unit because of the rapid development of the sharia banking industry.
Rizqullah, BNI Syariah president director, said the sharia bank would focus its strength on retail banking services and consumer financing while improving the quality of its some 700 staff members through training. BNI Syariah was targeting an 15 percent growth in total financing disbursed to about Rp 3.7 trillion (US$407 million) from the position after the spin off, Rp 3.2 trillion.
BNI Syariah’s total assets now stood at Rp 5.2 trillion and expected to grow by 15 percent to Rp 6 trillion by the end of this year. The sharia bank has 420,000 customers as of May this year.
