BNI explores ecosystem data to assess MSME lending risks

PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BNI), Indonesia's fourth-largest bank by assets, is exploring an ecosystem approach to assess lending risks for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

By analyzing data on how small businesses interact with buyers, suppliers, and large corporations within a supply chain, the state-owned bank aims to gain a more comprehensive understanding of transaction patterns and business risks. Sigit Prihatmoko, head of the corporate innovation centre at BNI, stated that this method is intended to enrich underwriting rather than replace it, uncovering risks and opportunities that might be invisible when looking at an entity in isolation.

BNI plans to apply this approach to payroll customers, government-linked digital projects, and Indonesian communities overseas to expand its reach beyond traditional wholesale banking. The bank also anticipates that customers will increasingly access financial services through third-party platforms.