Indonesian banking law is generally governed under Law No 7 of 1992 on Banking as lastly amended by Law No 4 of 2023 on the Development and Strengthening of Financial Sectors (“Law 4/2023”) (the “Banking Law”). The Banking Law essentially governs:
As banking is a heavily regulated sector, more detailed regulations – for example, with regard to establishment, licensing requirements, and liquidation – are further stipulated under the regulation of its supervisory bodies, which will be elaborated on later in this section. Several key regulations governing the banking sector are:
Financial Services Authority
According to Law No 21 of 2011 on the Financial Services Authority as amended by Law 4/2023, banking activities in Indonesia are supervised and regulated by an independent institution called the Financial Services Authority (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan, or OJK). In the banking sector, the OJK is authorised to regulate and supervise the following:
Bank Indonesia
Bank Indonesia (BI), as Indonesia’s central bank, supervises and regulates the monetary, payment system and macro-prudential policies in Indonesia in accordance with Law No 23 of 1999 on Bank Indonesia as lastly amended by Law 4/2023. Its authority includes supervision of and regulating several matters such as interest rates, liquidity (including in the banking sector), and foreign exchange transactions. BI initially had the duty and authority to regulate and supervise the Indonesian banking industry, which has since been shifted to the OJK (as previously mentioned).
Deposit Insurance Corporation
Banking resolution is handled by the Deposit Insurance Corporation (Lembaga Penjamin Simpanan, or LPS) in accordance with Law No 24 of 2004 on the Deposit Insurance Corporation as lastly amended by Law 4/2023 (the “LPS Law”). The LPS aims to insure and protect the public funds stored in banks. For banks with financial problems, LPS conducts resolution by way of:
More about the LPS will be explained in 6.1 Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS).
Requirements and Procedure
Obtaining authorisation to operate as a bank is done in two steps, as follows.
In-principle approval
The request for approval must be submitted at least by one of the prospective owners or controlling shareholders (pemegang saham pengendali, or PSPs) and must include:
After the complete application, the OJK will conduct:
In-principle approval is processed within 60 business days of a complete application. If granted, it remains valid for six months and will expire if the bank does not apply for a business licence.
Business licence
The application for a business licence is submitted to the OJK by the person who has obtained the in-principle approval. The application must include:
After receiving the complete application, the OJK will conduct:
Applications for business licences are processed within 60 business days of receipt of a complete application. If granted, the bank must commence business activities within 60 business days following the issuance of a business licence, at the latest.
The OJK also imposes levies on the application for a business licence (per company), as follows:
Permitted and Prohibited Activities and Services
According to the Banking Law, commercial banks may carry out the following activities/services.
Commercial banks are not allowed to perform the following activities:
To carry out other activities – such as activities within the payment services, either as card-based payment-related activities, e-money-related activities, payment gateways, or e-wallets (generally classified as payment services provider activities) – banks need to apply for a licence from BI.
OJK Regulation No 26 of 2024 on Expansion of Banking Business Activities (“OJK Regulation 26/2024”), which has been in effect since 13 December 2024, allows commercial banks and rural banks to perform the following activities:
Capital Participation by Commercial Banks
Other than in LJKs, commercial banks may only invest in companies supporting the banking industry, as further classified under OJK Regulation 26/2024:
The same rules are applicable for Sharia commercial banks. However, the investees must operate in accordance with and/or not in conflict with the Sharia principles.
Capital Participation by Rural Banks
Rural banks or Sharia rural banks are prohibited from making investments other than in supporting institutions of rural banks and Sharia rural banks domiciled in the territory of Indonesia. Supporting institutions consist of:
Obtaining a European Passport
Given the territorial effect of Indonesian laws, Indonesian banking laws can only:
Indonesia does not recognise the concept of European passport. Foreign banks may operate in Indonesia by establishing an OJK-licensed representative office and branch office. Indonesian banks may also establish offices abroad, subject to obtaining a licence from the OJK and from the local authority in such foreign country.
Bank acquisitions in Indonesia are governed by OJK Regulation No 41/POJK.03/2019 of 2019 on the Merger, Consolidation, Acquisition, Integration, and Conversion of Commercial Banks (“OJK Regulation 41/2019”). This defines an acquisition as the takeover of a bank’s shares by an entity or individual, resulting in a transfer of control.
The ownership of a bank by foreign individuals and/or legal entities is capped at 99% of the bank’s paid-up capital. Accordingly, any acquisition by foreign individuals and/or legal entities must not cause this limit to be exceeded.
Pre-Acquisition Requirements
The target bank and acquiring party must prepare an acquisition plan, approved by their respective boards of commissioners (or equivalent). The plan must include:
The target bank and the acquiring party must also submit to the OJK:
A summary of the acquisition plan must be announced in a nationally circulated Indonesian-language newspaper and on the bank’s website. The announcement must include at least a summary of the acquisition plan and a statement that the acquisition plan has not yet obtained approval from the general meeting of shareholders (GMS). The acquisition plan must be announced no later than:
Proof of the announcement must be submitted to the OJK within two working days. Employees must also be notified of the summary of the acquisition plan simultaneously and in writing.
GMS approval and acquisition permit application
The target bank and acquiring party must obtain approval from the GMS (or equivalent) for:
Within three working days once the GMS approval has been obtained, the target bank must apply for an acquisition permit from the OJK by submitting:
The OJK has the discretionary power to request additional documents or information and will decide on the acquisition permit application within 14 working days after receiving all required documents. If approved, the OJK will also finalise the FPT results.
Post-Acquisition Obligations
A bank that has obtained an acquisition permit must:
The implementation of corporate governance for banks is regulated under OJK Regulation No 17 of 2023 on the Application of Governance for Commercial Banks (“OJK Regulation 17/2023”). Banks are required to implement sound corporate governance in their business operations, which must at least encompass the principles of transparency, accountability, responsibility, independence and fairness.
Board of Directors
Banks must have at least three members on their board of directors – all of whom must be domiciled in Indonesia. The majority of directors must have at least five years of experience in operational roles as bank executives. The bank’s articles of association must stipulate the term of office for directors, with a maximum tenure of five years per term, commencing from the effective date of their appointment by the GMS. Directors are also subject to the applicable restrictions on concurrent positions and share ownership in other companies.
Board of Commissioners
Banks must have at least three members on their board of commissioners, with the total number not exceeding the number of directors. At least one commissioner must be domiciled in Indonesia. Similar to the board of directors, the bank’s articles of association must specify the maximum tenure of five years per term, commencing from the effective date of their appointment by the GMS. At least 50% of the board of commissioners must be independent commissioners. Commissioners are also subject to the applicable restrictions on concurrent positions.
Diversity Considerations
The appointment and/or replacement of members of the board of directors and members of the board of commissioners must prioritise professional composition, independence, and competency alignment, while also considering diversity as an essential factor in carrying out their duties and responsibilities. Diversity considerations include career background, experience, educational history, and gender.
Internal Policies
Banks are required to establish internal policies and procedures to ensure effective corporate governance in their business operations. These policies may take the form of the articles of association, decrees, manuals, bank policies or guidelines (standard operating procedures), corporate charters, or other operational documents. They must be formulated in compliance with prevailing laws and aligned with the bank’s business processes and approval mechanisms. The board of directors must communicate strategic internal policies – particularly those related to HR – to the bank’s employees, who are expected to uphold them as part of their professional responsibilities.
OJK Regulation No 27/POJK.03/2016 of 2016 on the Fit and Proper Test for Main Parties in Financial Services Institutions (“OJK Regulation 27/2016”) governs the registration requirements for prospective senior management (or “main parties”) in banks. This regulation defines “main parties” as individuals or entities that own, manage, supervise, and/or have significant influence over financial services institutions. In banks, a “main party” includes:
Prohibition of Acting as a Main Party Without OJK Approval
A prospective controlling shareholder who acquires shares in a bank without OJK approval cannot exercise shareholder rights and responsibilities. Likewise, a prospective director or commissioner appointed by the GMS cannot perform their duties until they have obtained OJK approval.
FPT (General)
To obtain OJK approval, prospective main parties must undergo an FPT administered by the OJK. The application must include the required administrative documents. If the documentation is incomplete, the OJK may return the application for revision.
The FPT assesses whether a prospective main party meets the following criteria.
FPT (Controlling Shareholder)
Prospective controlling shareholders must conduct a presentation on:
If the controlling shareholder is a legal entity, the FPT extends to:
FPT (Board of Directors and Board of Commissioners)
Banks must first perform self-assessments to ensure the prospective main party meets integrity, competence and financial reputation requirements and complies with the applicable laws and regulations. The self-assessment results must be submitted to the OJK along with the required administrative documents.
FPT Results
The OJK will issue a decision within 30 business days of receiving a complete application – although the timeline might vary in practice. Results will be communicated in writing to the bank and may also be shared with relevant authorities as required by law.
Remuneration requirements for banks in Indonesia are governed by OJK Regulation No 45/POJK.03/2015 of 2015 on Implementation of Governance in the Provision of Remuneration for Commercial Banks (“OJK Regulation 45/2015”). OJK Regulation 45/2015 defines remuneration as rewards granted to members of the board of directors, members of the board of commissioners, and employees – whether fixed or variable and in cash or non-cash form – in accordance with their duties, authority and responsibilities.
Remuneration Policy
Banks, through their board of directors, must establish a remuneration policy covering:
Remuneration Committee
The board of commissioners is responsible for forming a remuneration committee to oversee the implementation and conduct periodic evaluations of the remuneration policy. The remuneration committee must include at least:
Members of the board of directors cannot be part of the remuneration committee. If there are more than three members, at least two must be independent commissioners.
Principle of Prudence
Banks must apply prudential principles in the provision of both fixed remuneration (ie, remuneration that is not linked to performance and risk, including basic salary, facilities, housing allowance, health allowance, education allowance, holiday allowance, and pension) and variable remuneration (ie, remuneration that is linked to performance and risk, including bonuses or similar forms).
Regulatory Oversight and Disclosure
Banks are required to disclose information related to their remuneration policies in their annual report on governance implementation. If the OJK determines that a bank has not properly implemented its remuneration policy, it may require the bank to take corrective measures.
AML/CFT requirements in the banking sector are provided for by OJK Regulation No 8 of 2023 on the Implementation of Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing, and Counter-Proliferation Financing of Weapons of Mass Destruction (CPF) Programmes in the Financial Services Sector (“OJK Regulation 8/2023”).
The following financial services providers (penyedia jasa keuangan) (FSPs) are obliged to comply with the provisions stipulated in OJK Regulation 8/2023 related to AML, CFT and CPF:
Implementation of AML/CFT Programmes
FSPs must effectively implement AML, CFT and CPF programmes by considering the risks of money laundering, terrorism-financing crime, and weapons of mass destruction proliferation financing (WMDPF) in terms of their activities, business scale, business complexity and/or business characteristics, as follows.
In addition to the foregoing, FSPs are also obliged to comply with the relevant reporting requirements and submit reports to the relevant government agencies, including the OJK, the Indonesian Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Centre, and the Indonesian National Police.
Failure to Comply With AML/CFT Requirements
Failure to comply with the provisions contained in the OJK Regulation 8/2023 may subject the FSP to administrative sanctions imposed by the OJK, which range from:
The OJK may also announce the imposition of administrative sanctions to the public.
The depositor protection regime in Indonesia is carried out through the LPS pursuant to the LPS Law. The LPS guarantees bank customer deposits in the form of giro, certificates of deposit, savings, and/or other equivalent forms of deposits. Every bank (other than the Village Credit Agency (Badan Kredit Desa)) that conducts business activities within the territory of the Republic of Indonesia must participate in the guarantee scheme implemented by the LPS in respect of the deposits of the bank’s customers.
Banks are obligated to submit customer-based deposit data to the LPS to determine eligible deposits and are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the customer-based deposit data submitted to the LPS. To carry out this task, the LPS may conduct an examination of customer-based deposit data.
The LPS guarantee covers deposits if the following conditions are met:
The value of deposits guaranteed for each customer at one bank is a maximum of IDR100 million. The guaranteed deposit value can be changed if one or more of the following criteria are met:
The LPS is obliged to pay guarantee claims to a bank’s depositors even if the bank’s business licence is revoked. In connection with the calculation and payment of guarantee claims, the LPS is entitled to obtain data from a bank on its depositor customers (nasabah penyimpan) and other necessary information as of the date on which the bank’s business licence is revoked. In the event that the LPS deems it necessary, reconciliation and verification are conducted based on data and information obtained from other parties.
The LPS is further obliged to determine which deposits are eligible for payment after reconciling and verifying the data no later than 90 working days from the date on which the bank’s business licence was revoked and must start paying the eligible deposits no later than five working days following the verification. The LPS will announce the commencement date of the submitted guarantee claim in at least two widely circulated daily newspapers. The period of claim payment is five years from the date on which bank’s business licence was revoked.
Guarantee claims are declared not eligible for payment if, based on the results of reconciliation and/or verification:
Depositor customers who object to the LPS’ decision determining the status of their deposits can submit objections to the LPS by submitting real and clear evidence no later than 180 calendar days from the date of the announcement.
The payment of guarantee claims can be made in cash and/or by other equivalent means of payment. The payment of each guarantee claim is made in Indonesian currency (rupiah). However, guarantee claim payments tied to deposits denominated in foreign currencies will be converted to the equivalent amount in Indonesian rupiah based on the exchange rate set by BI.
Basel III Standards have been implemented in the Indonesian banking sector through the following local regulations:
Risk Management Rules
The implementation of risk management in commercial banks is conducted through:
Bank risk profiles are categorised into five grades, with Grade 5 indicating the highest level of risk and Grade 1 representing the lowest.
Capital Adequacy Requirements
In Indonesia, banks are required to hold a minimum amount of capital, depending on their risk profile grade. This amount is calculated based on the bank’s risk-weighted assets. Such minimum capital requirements are as follows:
To determine capital adequacy according to the bank’s risk profile, banks must have an Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP). The ICAAP is a method of a self-assessment for banks, which covers:
After the banks carry out an ICAAP, the OJK will evaluate the ICAAP result in what is known as the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP).
Indonesian commercial banks must meet the minimum threshold for first-tier and second-tier capital, with first-tier common equity (paid-up capital and disclosed reserves) being 4.5% of the bank’s risk-weighted assets and first-tier capital being 6% of the bank’s risk-weighted assets. Second-tier capital is limited to a maximum of 100% of first-tier capital, either individually or when consolidated with the bank’s subsidiaries.
Banks must also set aside additional capital as a buffer against variations in economic and financial risk, as follows:
As regards foreign banks’ branch offices, they must satisfy the Capital Equivalency Maintained Assets (CEMA) requirement. CEMA is the fund that must be allocated to the bank’s financial assets and must be maintained at a minimum of IDR1 trillion.
Liquidity Requirements
Indonesia has implemented both the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR), forming part of its bank liquidity risk policy.
The LCR aims to preserve a bank’s short-term liquidity stability by ensuring that it has sufficient high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) to cover estimated total net cash outflows during a 30-day stress scenario. Fulfilment of a minimum LCR of 100% indicates that banks have adequate liquidity.
Commercial banks are required to maintain their liquidity adequacy using the NSFR, which is set at a minimum of 100%. The value of the NSFR is obtained by comparing the value of available stable funding (ASF) with the value of required stable funding (RSF). A bank’s ASF refers to the amount in stable liabilities and equity that remains in the bank within one year, whereas RSF refers to the total assets and off-balance sheet exposure.
OJK has recently imposed the same requirements for the Sharia commercial banks and Sharia business units under OJK Regulation No 20 of 2025 on Obligation to Fulfil the Liquidity Coverage Ratio and Net Stable Funding Ratio for Sharia Commercial Banks and Sharia Business Units. Under the new regulation, the Sharia banks and units must meet a 100% liquidity adequacy ratio by 30 June 2028.
Leverage Ratio
Pursuant to the OJK Regulation No 31/POJK.03/2019 of 2019 on Mandatory Leverage Ratio Fulfilment for Commercial Bank and OJK Regulation No 21 of 2025 on Mandatory Leverage Ratio Fulfilment for Sharia Commercial Bank, conventional and Sharia commercial banks are required to always maintain a leverage ratio of at least 3%, which will be used to calculate the adequate core capital that must be provided by each bank based on its recorded total exposure.
Additional Requirements
Banks are required to submit reports to the OJK concerning their compliance with risk management, capital adequacy, and liquidity requirements. The reporting intervals can differ and may include daily, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual submissions, in accordance with the structured report formats stipulated under OJK Regulation No 63/POJK.03/2020 on Commercial Banks Reporting Through the OJK Reporting System.
The OJK has enacted OJK Regulation No 18 of 2025 on Transparency and Publication of Bank Reports since 4 August 2025, yet it will come into force on 8 February 2026. The regulation has re-compiled all mandatory reporting of banks regulated under the banking regulations and has grouped the reports according to the type of the banks as well as their reporting period and deadlines. This regulation aims to provide banks with easier guidance on navigating their relevant reporting obligations.
The regulation emphasises that each of the bank reports must be prepared thoroughly, accurately, currently, fully, on time, and comparably. Additionally, the OJK requires the bank’s board of directors to appoint an executive officer with the integrity and relevant competence to prepare the bank’s financial statements. Such an executive officer must have a good track record and must sign and submit to the OJK a statement letter of integrity and compliance with the applicable laws and regulations as well as the OJK’s directives. The executive officer must have knowledge and/or experience in the field of accounting.
Banks are required to appoint the executive officer as referred to in the preceding paragraph or – at a minimum – designate one member of the team as responsible for preparing the bank’s financial statements, ensuring that this person possesses the following competencies:
Indonesia is a member of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and implemented the FSB Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes by enacting Law No 9 of 2016 on the Prevention and Resolution of Financial System Crisis in 2016 as amended by Law 4/2023 (“Law 9/2016”). The law clarifies the responsibilities of the agencies involved in crisis management and specifies the resolution procedure for non-systemic and systemic banks. According to the regulation, banking resolution is jointly handled by the LPS in co-ordination with the OJK and BI as well as the Committee on Financial System Stability (Komite Stabilitas Sistem Keuangan, or KSSK).
If a bank encounters difficulties that jeopardise its business continuity, the OJK is authorised to:
As stipulated in Law 9/2016, the systemic bank should develop a recovery plan that comprises the obligation of the ultimate shareholders to conduct bail-in (eg, convert the debt to equity). In order to implement this law, the OJK has enacted OJK Regulation No 5 of 2024 on the Determination of the Status of Supervision and Problem Handling of Commercial Banks (“OJK Regulation 5/2024”). The regulations mainly govern recovery actions taken by banks while facing crisis related to capital, liquidity, profitability, and asset quality.
To overcome capital deficiencies, banks must pursue the following recovery options.
Recovery options for banks facing liquidity problems include:
Failure in profitability aspects can be addressed through cost-efficiency programmes, sale of fixed assets, and/or other recovery options, such as increasing collection activity. Meanwhile, issues caused by low asset quality can be resolved through credit restructuring, productive asset write-offs, and/or other recovery options, such as the transfer of credit collection rights (cessie).
If those measures are implemented and the bank continues to face challenges that threaten its business continuity and cannot be restored to a stable condition by the OJK within the latter’s authority, the OJK will designate the bank as a bank under resolution. Written notification of this designation will be provided by the OJK to the bank, the LPS, and BI accordingly.
In accordance with OJK Regulation 5/2024, the OJK will classify a bank as being under resolution if it cannot be restructured and meets the following criteria:
During the bank resolution, the clients’ deposits will be protected by the LPS. It will insure bank deposits in the form of current accounts, term deposits, certificates of deposit, saving accounts, or other equivalent forms of deposit. Currently, the number of deposits insured by the LPS for each customer in a bank is set at IDR2 billion. Meanwhile, deposits exceeding IDR2 billion will be settled by the liquidation team based on the results of the bank’s asset liquidation. The LPS guarantees various types of deposits, including conventional banking products such as demand deposits, time deposits, certificates of deposit, savings, and other equivalent forms, as well as deposit products governed by Islamic finance principles.
Sustainability Regulation
Indonesia has implemented regulations that govern the broader concept of sustainability within the banking sector. However, there are no specific regulations that explicitly focus on ESG matters. The existing regulation – namely, OJK Regulation No 51/POJK.03/2017 on the Implementation of Sustainable Finance for Financial Services Institutions, Issuers, and Public Companies (“OJK Regulation 51/2017”) – requires banks to adopt sustainable practices, but it primarily refers to sustainability in terms of economic, social and environmental factors, rather than the more specific ESG framework.
Under OJK Regulation 51/2017, banks in Indonesia are mandated to practise sustainable finance in their operations, so as to create sustainable economic growth by aligning economic, social and environmental interests. In practising sustainable finance, banks are required to prepare and implement the following.
The OJK may impose administrative sanctions for any non-compliances with the foregoing. Conversely, if the banks have performed sustainable finance effectively, the OJK may provide an incentive to the banks by involving the banks in HR competency development programmes, granting the Sustainable Finance Award, or other kinds of incentives.
Specific Regulations on Governance
While OJK Regulation 51/2017 does not specifically covers the “governance” aspect of ESG, the governance of banks has been regulated in several other OJK regulations as discussed in 1.1 Key Laws and Regulations, such as:
The above-mentioned regulations require banks to implement good governance and provide detailed guidelines on the implementation of good governance tailored for each type of bank in Indonesia. The regulations cover the duties and responsibilities of the board of directors and the board of commissioners, the formation and duties of committees, the handling of conflicts of interest, the implementation of compliance and audits, risk management, remuneration, the provision of funds to related parties and large funds, the integrity of reporting and IT systems, banks’ strategic plans, and shareholder aspects, as well as the implementation of anti-fraud measures, sustainable finance, and governance within banks’ business groups.
For Sharia banks, the regulations have also covered good governance in the Sharia context, such as the duties and responsibilities of the Sharia Supervisory Board, Sharia compliance and Sharia risk management.
The OJK has established regulations regarding risk management in the use of IT within the banking sector, which encompass several matters addressed under Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 (the “Digitial Operational Resilience Act” (DORA)), including requirements for managing banks’ IT risks, incident reporting, and managing third-party IT risks. These are regulated under OJK Regulation No 11/POJK.03/2022 on the Organisation of IT by Commercial Banks (“OJK Regulation 11/2022”) and its implementing regulations, OJK Circular Letter No 24/SEOJK.03/2023 on the Assessment of Digital Maturity of Commercial Banks, and OJK Circular Letter No 29/SEOJK.03/2022 on Cyber-Resilience and Cybersecurity for Commercial Banks.
IT Governance
Pursuant to OJK Reg 11/2022, banks are required to implement good IT governance. This is conducted by making clear the duties and responsibilities of the board of directors, the board of commissioners, and officials at all levels in the implementation of IT governance. In addition, banks are also required to establish:
IT Risk Management
Banks must implement risk management measures effectively by at least conducting risk identification, risk measurement, risk monitoring, and risk control. Information security must be implemented effectively and efficiently in every aspect, and communication networks provided by the banks must adhere to the principles of confidentiality, integrity and availability. Further, banks must have a disaster recovery plan in place to ensure the operation of the banks in the event of a disaster of IT disruption.
Cyber-Resilience and Cybersecurity
In maintaining cyber-resilience, banks must – with the support of adequate cyber-resilience information systems – conduct identification of assets, threats and vulnerability, as well as conducting asset protection, cyber-incident detection, and cyber-incident response and recovery. Banks must conduct self-evaluation on their cybersecurity maturity level annually and submit the evaluation report to the OJK.
In addition, cybersecurity tests must be conducted periodically ‒ at least once a year ‒ on a vulnerability analysis basis and scenario basis. To handle their cyber-resilience and cybersecurity, banks are required to establish a special unit or function responsible for these matters.
Co-Operation With Third-Party IT Services Providers
If a bank co-operates with a third-party IT services provider, the bank must be able to supervise the bank’s activities conducted by the IT services provider. Banks must establish policies and procedures in utilising the services of IT services providers, including with regard to:
When the selected IT services provider experiences significant organisational changes, banks are required to conduct a materiality reassessment of the IT services provider.
Banks must report to the OJK and decide the next step to address issues – including the termination of the IT services provider ‒ if the following conditions occur:
Reporting
Banks must submit several periodical reports to the OJK, including the IT development plan, a report on the current condition of IT operations, and an IT operations implementation report. In the event of an IT incident that has the potential to or has caused significant loss and/or disrupted the bank’s operational continuity, banks are required to submit an initial notification within 24 hours, as well as an IT incident report no later than five working days after the IT incident is discovered.
The OJK is currently in the process of preparing several regulations in the banking sector. Those expected to be implemented next are as follows.
Draft OJK Regulation on the Utilisation of Foreign Workers and the Knowledge Transfer Programme by Commercial Banks
This draft regulation is expected to replace OJK Regulation No 37/POJK.03/2017 of 2017 on the Employment of Foreign Workers and the Transfer of Knowledge Program Within the Banking Sector. The draft is expected to stipulate that a commercial bank with 25% of its shares owned by foreign parties may employ foreign workers only for the following positions:
The above-mentioned restrictions do not apply to the branches of offshore bank (Kantor Cabang Bank Luar Negeri, or KCBLN) and banks that operate as digital banks. Banks that employ the foreign workers as directors, commissioners, and executive officers must fulfil the following requirements:
Aside from the positions of directors and commissioners, foreign nationals may only be employed by banks to carry out functions or tasks related to treasury, risk management, IT, credit or financing, investor relations, marketing, finance, operational, and/or internal audit. Banks are prohibited from employing foreign workers in the areas of HR and compliance.
A bank with less than 25% of its shares owned by foreign parties may only employ foreign workers for expert or consultant positions. A bank may be exempted from this limitation if the following criteria are met:
A bank that employs foreign workers as executive officers or in the above-mentioned certain positions or as experts or consultants is required to conduct knowledge transfer, which must be carried out through:
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The Legal Responsibilities of Indonesian Banks in the Implementation of Green Banking
The evolving discourse on sustainable finance has positioned banking institutions as key actors in advancing environmental and climate objectives. In Indonesia, the concept of “green banking” has been incorporated into the regulatory landscape through the sustainable finance frameworks of the Financial Services Authority (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan, or OJK) and Bank Indonesia. However, the operational translation of these frameworks into measurable decarbonisation outcomes remains limited. The aim of this article is to compare the legal basis of Indonesian banks’ environmental responsibilities, the current performance of the sector in implementing policies, and the implications that arise from these gaps. It shall be argued that – while Indonesian regulations establish a foundation for green banking – enforcement remains weak and banks face increasing exposure to governance, disclosure and reputational risks.
Legal framework for green banking in Indonesia
Financial institutions occupy a central role in the green transition, functioning not only as providers of capital but also as gatekeepers for environmentally responsible economic activities. In Indonesia, the banking sector has become an essential instrument for achieving the State’s sustainable development goals, including commitments under the Paris Agreement and the country’s Net Zero Emission (NZE) target by 2060.
The regulatory push for green banking seeks to ensure that banks incorporate ESG principles into credit and investment decisions. Yet, despite the proliferation of sustainability-related policies, recent assessments by Asia Research andEngagement (ARE) in September 2025 reveal that Indonesia’s banks remain laggards in decarbonisation and fossil-fuel exit commitments compared to its South-East Asian peers. Such assessments, which include four major banks in Indonesia, indicate – among other findings – that these banks have not established specific timelines for discontinuing new coal power financing and have yet to adopt public policies containing restrictions on the financing of other high-carbon industries.
Indonesia’s legal framework for sustainable finance is anchored in several key regulatory instruments. However, these remain broadly applicable to the financial services sector as a whole and have yet to specifically address the core operations of the banking industry. As a starter, the OJK issued Regulation No 51/POJK.03/2017 on the Implementation of Sustainable Finance for Financial Service Institutions, Issuers, and Public Companies (“POJK 51/2017”). This regulation mandates the integration of sustainability principles into business strategy, risk management, and reporting. Under POJK 51/2017, banks must prepare a Sustainable Finance Action Plan (Rencana Aksi Keuangan Berkelanjutan, or RAKB) and disclose progress through a sustainability report. These obligations are supported by OJK Regulation No 14 of 2023 on Carbon Trading through Carbon Exchanges (“POJK 14/2023”) and OJK Regulation No 18 of 2023 on the Issuance of and Requirements for Sustainability-Based Debt Securities and Sharia Bonds (“POJK 18/2023”), which establish financing mechanisms for environmentally sustainable projects applicable to financial services institutions, including banks.
Additionally, the environmental law regime under Law No 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management as amended by Government Regulation in Lieu of Law of the Republic of Indonesia No 2 of 2022 on Job Creation (“Law 32/2009”) imposes obligations on all business actors (including banks) to ensure that financed activities comply with environmental standards. Banks are therefore expected to assess the adequacy of environmental impact analyses (Analisis Mengenai Dampak Lingkungan, or AMDAL) as part of their due diligence in lending decisions. Banks’ failure to perform environmental due diligence may give rise to the proliferation of financing linked to environmentally harmful projects. This regulatory framework demonstrates that the intersection of environmental and banking regimes collectively forms the legal and prudential basis for requiring Indonesian banks to integrate environmental risk management into their fiduciary duties and compliance obligations.
Assessment of Indonesian green banking and decarbonisation policy
Despite the existence of these legal instruments, empirical findings demonstrate a substantial implementation gap. Reports by ARE in 2025 have shown Indonesian banks’ moderate progress in governance and risk management in relation to climate change but that they remain notably weak when it comes to policy commitment and fossil-fuel phase-out strategies. The study found that Indonesian banks scored an average of 53% across key decarbonisation dimensions, with governance at 50%, risk management at 83%, opportunity at 75%, but policy commitment only at 17%. While the policy assessment focuses on evaluating efforts to reduce banks’ exposure to high-carbon industries, the governance dimension primarily examines the extent of management board accountability in implementing green banking and decarbonisation policies. The risk management dimension concerns the adequacy of risk mitigation measures undertaken prior to lending decisions, whereas the opportunity aspect pertains to the enhancement of banks’ disclosure of sustainable finance targets.
Among the four Indonesian banks assessed in the study, only one had publicly committed to a formal net-zero target, while none had established specific timelines for phasing out financing of new coal-fired power projects. This limited progress reflects both institutional and regulatory challenges. While the OJK encourages sustainable finance through POJK 51/207, POJK 14/2023, and POJK 18/2023, it has yet to impose explicit prohibitions or mandatory transition timelines for high-carbon financing. Consequently, between 2016 and 2024, Indonesian banks accounted for 12% of coal project financing across South-East Asia.
In conclusion, although the current legal framework promotes green banking, the lack of enforceable measures allows carbon-intensive financing to persist. This suggests that Indonesia’s regulatory regime still relies heavily on voluntary compliance and reputational incentives rather than binding legal obligations.
Enforcement challenge
Under POJK 51/2017, banks must disclose sustainability performance indicators. However, the regulation lacks explicit sanctions for inaccurate or incomplete reporting, reducing its deterrent effect. The absence of a standardised disclosure framework comparable to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) in the Indonesian regulatory framework also limits its cross-jurisdictional comparability and overall transparency.
The OJK’s current supervisory approach is largely principle-based, emphasising persuasion and guidance rather than enforcement. Although this fosters flexibility, it may weaken compliance incentives, particularly for large banks with fossil-heavy portfolios. From a legal perspective, banks may face the following consequences:
It is questionable whether Law 32/2009 allows for the possibility of indirect liability where financial institutions knowingly fund environmentally destructive activities. However, the dispute settlement provisions under the regulation are sufficiently broad in interpretation to allow for the imposition of indirect liability on financial institutions that knowingly finance environmentally destructive activities. Nevertheless, such provision has rarely been tested in Indonesian courts and enforcement challenges remain a central obstacle.
Indonesia Sustainable Finance Taxonomy
The lack of detailed implementing regulations specifying sanctions for unsustainable financing renders existing obligations largely aspirational. Supervisory bodies have yet to establish clear methodologies for assessing climate-related financial risk in stress-testing or prudential evaluations. In an effort to close this gap, the OJK launched a consultative paper on the third version of Indonesia Sustainable Finance Taxonomy (Taksonomi untuk Keuangan Berkelanjutan Indonesia, or “TKBI Version 3”) on 16 October 2025. It is a classification system for economic activities that support Indonesia’s Sustainable Development Goals, encompassing economic, environmental and social dimensions. The taxonomy serves as a reference framework to enhance capital allocation and sustainable financing, thereby contributing to the achievement of Indonesia’s net-zero emission target.
The TKBI is developed through a progressive approach covering all Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)-related sectors as well as relevant enabling sectors. The first version, TKBI Version 1 (issued in February 2024), established the core framework and technical criteria for activities in the energy sector. The subsequent TKBI Version 2 introduced technical criteria for three NDC sectors, such as construction and real estate, transportation and storage, and parts of the agriculture, forestry and fishing (AFF) sectors, particularly forestry and palm oil plantations.
In alignment with the ongoing development of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (ATSF) Version 4 by the ASEAN Taxonomy Board (ATB), the OJK continues the formulation of TKBI Version 3. This version will include Technical Screening Criteria (TSC) for three NDC sectors – namely, AFF (covering agriculture, plantation, fisheries and marine, social forestry, and species conservation), manufacturing/industrial processes and product use (IPPU), and water supply, sewerage, and waste management (WSSWM) – as well as two enabling sectors, which are:
The preparation of TKBI is carried out through close collaboration between the OJK, relevant ministries/agencies, and various national and international stakeholders. The development of TKBI Version 3 is currently in the public consultation stage – related consultative papers regarding which are published on the OJK’s homepage. The consultation includes written submissions and in-person meetings, which took place between 11 October 2025 and 21 November 2025, with focus group discussions on 30 October 2025 and 31 October 2025.
With regard to sustainable financing provided by the banks and other financial institutions, TKBI Version 3 introduces the following features.
The publication of TKBI Version 3 consultative papers reflects the Indonesian regulator’s efforts to establish practical mechanisms for financial institutions to implement green banking and decarbonisation. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether these soft laws (ie, requirements for green certification and the assessment of businesses’ alignment with the sustainable business taxonomy) will eventually be formalised into binding and enforceable instruments, such as OJK regulations.
Outlook and recommendations
Indonesia’s regulatory landscape for green banking and decarbonisation represents an important step towards aligning financial practices with sustainability principles. However, the current framework falls short of establishing binding mandates or robust enforcement mechanisms. Consequently, Indonesian banks are increasingly exposed to reputational and legal risks arising from their continued financing of high-emission projects, which stands in contrast to the rapid advancement of global and regional sustainability standards.
The Indonesian regulators are encouraged to strengthen regulatory enforcement, align disclosure standards for the financing targets, and enhance national inter-agency co-ordination. Once the issue of enforceability is addressed, banks will inherently bear legal accountability in fulfilling their role in supporting the nation’s transition towards a low-carbon economy.
While awaiting the formal adoption or incorporation of international standards into the binding regulatory framework for green banking and decarbonisation, Indonesian banks are encouraged to implement the OJK’s carbon trading guidelines (Mengenal dan Memahami Perdagangan Karbon Bagi Sektor Jasa Keuangan) – the first edition of which was published in July 2025. In line with POJK 51/2017, the guidelines encourage banks to provide blended financing to the small carbon project developers, allocate financing related to the improvement of human resources capacity through manpower training in carbon projects, and act as intermediaries in carbon trading.
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