In commemoration of this milestone, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) and PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, (BNI, stock code: BBNI) planted 2,000 tree seeds in BNI’s local and overseas grounds. It was symbolically marked with a planting at Anyer Beach, Banten, on Tuesday with the attendance of director of PPATK and Ivan Yustiavandana and the president director of BNI Royke Tumilaar.

Ivan appreciated BNI’s marking the AML-CTF commemoration through the decades. According to Ivan, the events are meant to remind all parties and stakeholders that money laundering and financing of terrorism can harm all sectors including the environment, thus threatening the sustainability of nature.

“We thank BNI for being a proactive actor in combating money laundering and terrorism financing. This is proof of our integrity that has been passed down to us from our nation’s founding fathers,” he said.

Ivan further revealed that the PPATK received 50,000 reports every hour. This showed a need for legal transformation to follow the rapid development of information technology. At its core, the PPATK maintains the sustainability of Indonesia for generations to come. The purpose is to safeguard the integrity of Indonesia’s financial system from crime.

He added that the tree-planting program was part of the PPATK’s programs against money laundering and terrorism financing. According to Ivan, some businesses in Indonesia play a hand in exploiting natural resources in Indonesia and leaving behind serious damage.

“The development of the AML-CTF is very rapid. We have been given mandates directly from President Joko Widodo to monitor crimes in the green financing segment,” he said.

Royke said that enforcing the AML-CTF was one of BNI’s main operational pillars. As a bank, BNI is obligated to protect transactions from fraud and other violations that will harm Indonesian society at large. BNI fully upholds prudential banking principles to protect service providers and users from any possible risk.

BNI is under the assignment and responsibility of the board of directors, as well as supervision from the board of commissioners. BNI is also equipped with written procedures, clear risk-management processes, excellent human resources management and an internal control system.

“We thank the PPATK for its guidance as we continue to support the AML-CTF movement. BNI has built an internal control system that is strong while also applying the values of the [SOEs Ministry’s One Culture] AKHLAK movement,”

An environmentally conscious community

Royke added that BNI is part of an environmentally conscious community that embraces the “Go Green” spirit through various programs in sustainability and nature conservation. “In the Megamendung region, we’ve collaborated with the local community to reforest a barren area by 30 hectares or more. BNI also helped plant 300,000 trees in Anyer, Banten, and the upper Citarum River basin,” he elaborated.

A positive performance in green financing supported by high social and environmental standards as well as excellent corporate governance practices enabled BNI to increase its Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) ESG rating to “A” in November 2021.

“Our A rating is currently the highest among Indonesian banks, thus confirming our role as a pioneer in implementing green finance,” he concluded.

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