Sea Limited, a Singaporean technology conglomerate, is reportedly set to acquire a stake ranging from 10-15% in PT Bank Hibank Indonesia (Hibank), owned by PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (BBNI). The confirmation came from BNI's President Director, Royke Tumilaar.
While acknowledging Sea Limited's option to acquire a portion of Hibank's shares, Royke emphasized that BBNI would remain the majority shareholder of Hibank. This move follows BNI Group's collaboration with Sea Limited's parent company, Shopee, in developing business models and IT designs for Bank Mayora, now known as Hibank, which BNI acquired.
Despite Sea Limited's existing presence in Indonesia's digital banking sector through its subsidiary, PT Bank Seabank Indonesia (Seabank), Royke stated that there are currently no plans for consolidation between Seabank and Hibank, nor any intentions from BNI Group to acquire SeaBank.
Royke clarified that Seabank appears to focus on supporting Shopee's business, while Hibank will concentrate on empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia. This strategic differentiation aims to address distinct market segments effectively.
Hibank's transformation, formerly known as Bank Mayora, signifies BNI's commitment to fostering the MSME ecosystem in Indonesia. BNI's Finance Director, Novita Widya Anggraini, highlighted that Hibank's growth trajectory over the next five years will center on digital-focused SMEs, particularly those within value chain ecosystems like markets or small shops with anchor businesses.
Meanwhile, SeaBank, previously PT Bank Kesejahteraan Ekonomi, underwent a name change in 2021 after its acquisition by Sea Limited. Sea Limited's vigorous foray into digital banking extends regionally, with the group securing a full digital banking license in Singapore to operate as Maribank and forming a consortium with YTL Digital Capital to establish a digital bank in Malaysia.
The acquisition of a stake in Hibank by Sea Limited underscores the intensifying competition and strategic maneuvers within Indonesia's digital banking landscape. While Sea Limited continues its regional expansion in the fintech sector, BNI's focus on empowering MSMEs through Hibank highlights the broader financial inclusion objectives within Indonesia's evolving economic ecosystem. As the digital banking sector evolves, the synergy between traditional financial institutions and tech-driven conglomerates like Sea Limited promises to reshape the financial services landscape in Southeast Asia.