Indonesia

While many Indonesian banks are still reeling from the devastating effects of the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, Bank Internasional Indonesia is well on the road to recovery and is reinforcing its position as one of the leaders in the country's increasingly competitive banking industry. Its dual focus on both the local market and expat workers in Indonesia may be one key to success.

Sigit Pramono, president director of BII (Bank Internasional Indonesia), speaks of the bank's determination to meet the changing demands on its services. It fulfils the banking needs of over 2 million customers through the regular introduction of quality banking products and new services -- such as its Internet banking system and a soon to be launched Priority Banking Division.

In Pramono's view, one of BII's greatest competitive advantages lies in its technologically advanced solutions: "The technology base of our products is quite sophisticated. We have a strong ATM network and complete online banking services to handle transactions. We also have phone banking and Internet banking services. Our Internet banking system, in fact, is one of the best in town."
Sigit Pramono, president director of Bank International Indonesia

These solutions are geared specifically towards greater customer satisfaction, as is the bank's Foreign Customer Division - which targets expatriate businessmen in need of a bank that will support cash management activities such as current accounts, time deposits and individual savings accounts in a language they can understand.

"Foreign clients have different expectations from the local market, sometimes due to more sophisticated banks in their countries of origin, so they are quite demanding when it comes to the variety of our products and services," explains Pramono. "This is why we set up a very special division to handle customers in this segment."

Although the division mainly serves the Japanese and Korean community in Indonesia, BII is developing a Priority Banking Division which will more closely cater to customers of other nationalities in the near future.

"I want our customers to perceive BII as meeting international standards with our products and services," he says, "but we also want to develop a more personal approach to our clients. This is why our motto is 'We serve and care better'."

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