Business · Economy · 1 hr ago
Indonesia Plans Free Bank Accounts for 25 Million People
Indonesia plans free bank accounts for 25 million people as part of a program announced by Coordinating Economy Minister Airlangga Hartarto.
The accounts are intended for people over 17 with low incomes, but officials gave different eligibility ranges: one account says the lowest-income 10%, while another says income groups one to four.
Officials will screen recipients using national social and economic data before accounts are assigned.
The program has a budget of 1.28 trillion rupiah, with an initial deposit of 50,000 rupiah per account.
BRI and Bank Syariah Indonesia will help provide the accounts.
The government says the accounts are meant to widen access to formal financial services and make aid payments more effective.
The program is prepared for launch by the end of 2026, officials said.
Indonesia plans to open free bank accounts for 25 million people aged 17 and older who do not have bank accounts.
The government has set a budget of Rp1.28 trillion, down from an earlier plan of about Rp3.8 trillion.
The accounts are intended for people in the lowest income groups, with reports describing the target as deciles 1–4.
Each account is expected to receive an initial deposit of Rp50,000.
State-owned banks BRI and BSI are expected to open the accounts, which the government also plans to use to distribute assistance.
- Who
- The Indonesian government, led on the announcement by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.
- What
- A program to open free bank accounts for 25 million people who do not have bank accounts.
- When
- The government said the program was being prepared in October 2026 and was expected to launch by the end of the year.
- Where
- Indonesia.
- Why
- To widen access to formal financial services and help distribute government assistance more effectively.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The government announced the mass bank-account plan, with an estimated budget of about Rp3.8 trillion.
Airlangga said about 74 million people aged 17 and older did not have bank accounts, while data checks were under way.
Airlangga announced a target of 25 million recipients and a revised budget of Rp1.28 trillion.
Airlangga said the program was expected to launch.
- Target recipients
- 25 million people
- Eligibility
- Age 17 and older; reports describe the target as deciles 1–4
- Program budget
- Rp1.28 trillion
- Initial deposit
- Rp50,000 per account
- Banks named
- Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI)
7 sources
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What people are saying
We will encourage effective assistance distribution and productive activities.
Because the same person can have two [bank] accounts, three accounts.