PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk or BNI continues to contribute in supporting the activities of the Indonesian diaspora in South Korea. One of the diaspora who benefits from BNI is Indria Dhanualve Duduh, owner of Warung Nusantara restaurant in Ansan City, South Korea.
As the only Indonesian bank with a full branch license in the Land of Ginseng, BNI is a financial solution that facilitates transactions and business management for the Indonesian diaspora.
BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo said that BNI's presence in Seoul, South Korea, serves as a banking partner capable of meeting all of Indonesian citizens’ (WNI) financial service needs in South Korea.
"BNI is committed to always supporting the Indonesian diaspora in South Korea through various financial products and services, including business loans, savings, and efficient exchange and transfer of funds," said Okki.
Indria Dhanualve, also known as Cika, has been one of the Indonesian diasporas who has benefited from BNI's presence. The woman from Bogor, who has been living in South Korea since 2012, is an entrepreneur who also teaches Indonesian culture in local schools.
Cika has known BNI since 2019 when she was still working as a local SIM card reseller. Her sales can compete by combining BNI account opening services for Indonesian citizens in need. "So, anyone who needs to be helped opening a BNI savings account can contact me, later they will also get a Korean number," said Cika.
Thanks to her contribution in introducing BNI in South Korea and providing education to Indonesian migrant workers (PMI), Cika received an award as a Diaspora Hero from BNI in 2024. She admitted that the presence of BNI also helped her culinary business become more well-known to the public, despites its location in a building’s basement.
Starting from orders for rice boxes that were needed by many Indonesian diaspora, Cika has now developed Warung Nusantara in the city of Ansan, South Korea. The restaurant with typical Indonesian dishes such as fried rice, meatballs, lontong sayur, to rendang, has become better known to people looking for halal food in the city.
"Around 80% of Warung Nusantara visitors are Indonesian, they can pay using BNI debit cards here, then 20% are Koreans, also Bangladeshis and Indians. Those who are looking for halal food usually come here," said Cika.
Not only that, Cika also often helps provide education to Indonesian migrant workers and other Indonesian diaspora who do not yet understand how to access financial services in South Korea.
"Most PMI come from the regions and do not have savings. With BNI, they can send money to their families more easily. Moreover, now there is the wondr application by BNI," she added.
As a customer who also regularly uses the money transfer service, Cika appreciates the presence of wondr by BNI which makes her financial transactions more practical. Through this mobile banking application, she can more easily send pocket money and top up electricity tokens for her family in Indonesia.
"Previously, you had to use a token, and if you lost the token, you had to register again. Now, with wondr by BNI, everything is easier. Expenses are also more controlled," said Cika.