Even though Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) has been eager to encourage local banks to raise efficiency, banks' ratio of operating expenses to operating income (ROEOI) has in fact risen. For example, the ROEOI of Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) rose 406 basis points from 68.04 percent in March 2015 to 72.10 percent in March 2016. BRI's Finance Director Haru Koesmahargyo said the bank's higher ROEOI is caused by the bank's rising non-performing loan (NPL) ratio. In Q1-2016 BRI's NPL ratio rose 20 basis points to 2.22 percent.

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Local media in Indonesia report that the Indonesian government has a list of 6,000 names of Indonesians that are ready to repatriate their funds in order to take advantage of the tax incentive provided by the Tax Amnesty Bill. This controversial bill, which is currently being discussed by Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR), makes it attractive for tax evaders to repatriate their undeclared wealth into Indonesia as they are offered tax incentives and protection from prosecution.

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The banking sector of Indonesia is expected to rebound in 2016 due to the lower primary reserve requirement ratio for rupiah deposits (6.5 percent), lower cost of funds as well as operational costs, rising credit volume (due to the lower interest rate environment) and improving purchasing power. The banking sector is also expected to feel the positive impact of the stimulus packages unveiled by the Indonesian government aimed at strengthening domestic businesses and improve the investment climate. And lastly, banks are to benefit from the government's push for infrastructure development.

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Bank Central Asia (BCA), one of the largest banks in Indonesia, saw its net profit rise 9.3 percent year-on-year (y/y) to IDR 18 trillion (approx. USD $1.4 billion) in 2015, supported by strong loan growth and the relatively low cost of funds. Meanwhile, BCA's net interest income, the difference between interest earned and interest paid, grew 12 (y/y) to IDR 35.9 trillion (approx. USD $2.7 billion) and non-interest income, which includes fees such as deposit and transaction fees, rose 28.5 percent (y/y) to IDR 12 trillion (approx. USD $909 million).

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In anticipation of the Financial Services Authority's new policy, Indonesian banks categorized under BUKU III claim to be ready for a lower net interest margin (NIM). NIM is the difference between interest income generated by banks and the amount of interest paid out to the lenders. BUKU (Bank Umum Kelompok Usaha) is a categorization system, designed by Bank Indonesia, that divides Indonesian banks into four categories based on the banks' capital. Banks categorized under BUKU III have capital between IDR 5 trillion (approx. USD $373 million) and IDR 30 trillion (approx. USD $2.2 billion).

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Most Asian stock markets fell on Tuesday (23/02) on extended concerns about the world's low crude oil prices and China's economic slowdown. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) plunged 1.16 percent to 4,654.05 points, leading declines in Asia as the nation's banking shares were also affected by local financial authorities' plans to curtail the net interest margin in order to bring down Indonesian banks' lending rates and boost credit expansion in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

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Bank Indonesia, the central bank of Indonesia, expects banks' credit growth realization to reach 9-10 percent (y/y) in 2015, below its target of 11-13 percent (y/y). Up to October 2015 Indonesian banks' credit growth stood at 10.4 percent, slowing from 11.1 percent in the preceding month. Juda Agung, Executive Director of Economic and Monetary Policy Department Bank Indonesia, said slowing credit growth is in line with the economic slowdown.

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Contrary to earlier information, Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) is expected to somewhat limit investment opportunities for foreign investors in the country's banking sector. Nelson Tampubolon, Commissioner for Banking Supervision at the OJK, said foreigners will only be allowed to acquire a majority-stake in small Indonesian banks (categorized under the BUKU 1 system) provided that the foreigner purchases two (small) banks and merge these into one entity.

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After having been limited to 40 percent for the last three years, foreign investors are now allowed to control a more-than-40 percent stake in Indonesian banks, provided that they buy two local banks and merge them into one. Indonesia's financial authorities gave the green light to two foreign banks (China Construction Bank Corporation and the South Korea-based Shinhan Bank) that seek to tap Indonesia's lucrative banking sector.

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In a new report US-based rating agency Moody's Investors Service says that Indonesian banks are strong enough to cope with ongoing currency volatility and sluggish economic growth. Although sharp rupiah depreciation does imply risks, "Indonesian banks seem manageable", Moody's Vice President and Senior Credit Officer Srikanth Vadlamani said, "as over 70 percent of local banks' debt constitutes related-party debt, implying minimal risks to the domestic banking system".

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Moody's Investors Service, one of the big three global credit rating firms, predicts that profit in Indonesia's banking sector remains stable due to strong financial fundamentals. In its report "Indonesia Banking System Outlook", which discusses Indonesian banks' creditworthiness over the next 12 to 18 months, Moody's assesses that - despite an economic slowdown having reduced GDP growth to 5.78 percent in 2013 and puts some pressure on asset quality - high profitability and strong capital levels will continue into 2014.

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