Heaptalk, Jakarta — Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) has decided to close most of its branch offices. To avoid speculation, Sunarso, BRI’s President Director, explained on Thursday (11/07) that these offline branch closures are part of the bank’s digital transformation. As a result, services are being transferred to BRILink agents, who are spread out across small shops.
“This transformation of BRI is the second phase, called BRIvolution 2.0. The goal is for BRI to become Southeast Asia’s most valuable banking group and a financial inclusion champion. In this phase, inclusion is key,” Sunarso stated.
Regarding the shift of services to BRILink agents, Sunarso noted that BRI’s research shows that the Indonesian public does not fully utilize digital services. Many still prefer banking services through agents. He said, “In fact, not even digital. People are still reluctant to go to the bank. They prefer using services through local shops closer to their homes and neighbors. But the main point is that people still need physical presence and a personal touch.”
Sunarso explained that BRILink agents provide the same services as BRI branch offices but in agent form. These agents can be small shops, convenience stores, and other similar locations. “The goal is to reach a broader, deeper, and more affordable segment of society, particularly in areas not covered by formal banking services, thus increasing financial inclusion,” he added.
BRILink agents are growing rapidly, with over 1,022,000 agents across Indonesia this year. Sunarso recalled that in 2015, the number of BRILink agents was only around 75,000. The business side of the operation is also lucrative, as last year, the state-owned bank received a fee of Rp1.5 trillion from BRILink agents.
He mentioned that agents receive approximately twice BRI’s fee, as their portion is more significant. Sunarso estimated that BRILink agents nationwide earn around Rp2.5 trillion to Rp3 trillion.
This reflects that many Indonesians still require physical banking services. In 2023, the transaction volume through BRILink agents exceeded Rp1.427 trillion. As of September this year, the transaction volume had already reached Rp1.170 trillion. “This is the presence of BRI with its agents, having closed some of its branches, yet still managing to serve the public more deeply, more widely, and reach a larger number of people. And the transaction volume through these small shops is indeed huge,” Sunarso concluded.
