By the end of March, the state-owned bank had disbursed Rp 914.19 trillion in loans. The main contributors to BRI's credit growth were microcredit, which grew 12.43 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rp 360.03 trillion, and consumer credit, which grew 1.62 percent yoy to Rp 145.06 trillion.

BRI's loan portfolio for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contributed 80.60 percent overall to total loans. This figure is higher than the 78.31 percent in MSME loans recorded in the first quarter of 2020. The bank expects the proportion of MSME loans to grow incrementally to reach 85 percent.

The bank was, in fact, able to maintain the quality and smooth disbursement of loans, as reflected in the nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio of 3.16 percent at the end of March. In addition, BRI prepared reserves in the range of 250.60 percent for NPL coverage.

"The reserves BRI set have been allocated with the best composition, whereby we project that the reserve will not be as high at the end of the year as it was the previous year, in line with improving economic conditions," said Sunarso.

BRI also recorded positive asset growth of 3.83 percent yoy to Rp 1.41 quadrillion in the first quarter of 2021. In liabilities, BRI recorded 1.97 percent yoy growth in third-party funds (DPK) to Rp 1.05 trillion. Savings recorded double-digit growth of 11.50 percent yoy in the first quarter to Rp 443.87 trillion. This in turn resulted in BRI's current account savings account (CASA) ratio to increase to 58.91 percent in March 2021 from 55.90 percent in March 2020.

With a focus on provision and sustainability performance, BRI recorded a profit of Rp 6.86 trillion in the first quarter of 2021. BRI's sustainability efforts are also reflected in the ideal loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) and capital adequacy ratio (CAR). BRI recorded an LDR of 87.12 percent in March and a CAR of 19.74 percent during the same period, an increase of 18.56 percent yoy from March 2020.

BRI sees that the main challenge for banks today is not liquidity, but extending credit to the real sector. Two of the most significant and most elastic aspects that affect credit growth are household consumption and consumer purchasing power.

"Therefore, we will continue to fill the role of being at the forefront of national economic recovery by being the government's key partner in channeling various aid and stimulus packages to increase consumption and consumer purchasing power, which in turn will stimulate demand for credit," said Sunarso.

Named Forbes 2020 Best Public Company

The steps, strategies and performance BRI achieved in the year since the pandemic has been recognized by the international community, with the world's leading business magazine, Forbes, naming BRI as the best public company in Indonesia. The Global 2000 World's Largest Public Companies includes six Indonesian public companies, with BRI ranking the highest among them for the seventh consecutive year. The bank ranks 362th on the Forbes 2021 list of the 2,000 best public companies in the world.

Sunarso added that this achievement was proof that state-owned enterprises (BUMN) had the capacity to make achievements on the global scene. He added that BRI would remain committed to sustainable performance through its focus on assisting MSMEs while continuing to create and deliver value to all stakeholders.

"BRI's focus is indeed on the micro but it has had a macro impact, both in making achievements in the global arena as well as in driving and restoring the national economy," he concluded.

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