Heaptalk, Jakarta — As a financial services institution in Indonesia, Bank Neo Commerce (BNC) is committed to supporting the government in improving financial literacy to protect communities form the rising threat of online gambling.
Online gambling has become increasingly prevalent and alarming. Recent data reveals that 8.8 million Indonesians engaged in online gambling in 2024, according to Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Budi Gunawan. Around 80,000 children under the age of 10 are also suspected of participating.
Eri Budiono, CEO of Bank Neo Commerce, expressed concern over the growing threat of online gambling, which traps millions of Indonesians, primarily from the productive age group. If left unchecked, online gambling could jeopardize the economy by increasing the risk of poverty among the population.
“Financial literacy is essential to shield people from the lure of online gambling. A collective effort is needed to reach as many communities as possible. Specifically, BNC is actively conducting continuous financial literacy initiatives to support government programs and raise awareness of the dangers of online gambling,” Eri stated in a written statement from Jakarta.
BNC has organized multiple online and offline financial literacy activities with several partners. These efforts have extended beyond Jakarta to cities such as Medan, Palembang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, and Banjarmasin. Since 2022, through the Neo Keliling campaign, BNC has traveled to educate communities about financial management.
These tangible efforts have earned recognition, with the Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) awarding BNC as the Most Active Bank in Financial Literacy Activities during the LPS Awards 2023. Moving forward, BNC aims to reach even more communities, particularly those vulnerable to online gambling.
To broaden its impact, Bank Neo Commerce collaborates with diverse communities, including students, lifestyle and music enthusiasts, automotive groups, practitioners, the general public, and professionals such as pharmacists who participated in the Bali Pharmacy Festival 2022.
“Through BNC’s active involvement in financial literacy programs, we hope to support the government in improving financial literacy levels among Indonesians. Ultimately, this can help curb the proliferation of online gambling by equipping communities with better financial knowledge,” Eri concluded.
