BNI to decide on general insurance company
(11 August 2015 – Indonesia) State lender Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) is in search for a new general insurance subsidiary, with a preference for a wholly owned business rather than a partnership.
BNI consumer banking director Anggoro Eko Cahyo told The Jakarta Post that it was still conducting an assessment on the future unit, adding that an entry into general insurance would provide the bank with ample business opportunities.
He said the first priority was to work with millions of its banking customers, clients of subsidiaries – namely in life insurance and Shariah banking.
Last year the banks subsidiary insurer BNI Life made Rp 128.78 billion (A$12.86 million) in net profits, which translated into around Rp 77.27 billion of profit for BNI as the owner of a 60 percent stake in the company.
“BNI Life is not our biggest subsidiary, but its growth has been very positive and we are looking for a similar contribution from the upcoming general insurance unit,” Anggoro said.
BNI Life is jointly owned by BNI and Japanese life insurer Sumitomo Life Insurance Company.
This time Anggoro said BNI wants to go it alone and is mulling over buying an existing company or establishing a new one.
BNI finance director Rico Rizal Budidarmo said 7 August that it had not allocated specific funds for the general insurance unit and that it was waiting for “good timing” to execute the plan.
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