South Sulawesi financial inclusion reaches 94 percent amid literacy gap

Financial inclusion in South Sulawesi has reached approximately 94 percent, according to recent data. However, this high level of access is not matched by financial literacy, which currently stands at only 61 percent.

This 33 percent gap was highlighted during the 2026 Financial Expo (FIN Expo) in Makassar. Officials, including South Sulawesi Vice Governor Fatmawati Rusdi and OJK Sulselbar Head Moh. Muchlasin, expressed concern that such a disparity leaves a third of the population vulnerable to financial risks. Without adequate understanding of rights, obligations, and risks, residents may fall victim to illegal digital loans, fraudulent investments, or unsustainable debt.

The provincial government and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) are working to bridge this gap through structured education programs to ensure that increased access to banking, insurance, and loans is accompanied by the knowledge necessary to manage them safely and legally.