The Merger of Indonesian Islamic Banks: Impact on the Islamic Economy Development

Abstract

The development of Islamic banking and financial institutions in Indonesia is getting better from year to year. This development is a benchmark for the success of the Islamic economy. To become a new economic force in Indonesia, the Minister of State Owned Enterprises stated that there are plans to merge state owned Islamic banks namely BRI Syariah, BNI Syariah, and Bank Syariah Mandiri, as the total assets of Islamic banks will increase and become larger in Indonesia. This research aims to determine the impact of the merger of three Indonesian Islamic banks in the development of the Islamic economy. The research employed a qualitative method with a library research approach. The results have shown that the merger of three Islamic banks consisting of Bank BRI Syariah, Bank BNI Syariah, and Bank Syariah Mandiri into Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) has positive impacts on the Islamic economy development in Indonesia. Firstly, the increase in banking capital as a result of the merger of the three banks, the increase in economic activity in the field of Islamic capital markets, to increase literacy and understanding of Islamic economics and work with economists and Islamic institutions to support the program, promote Islamic economic development by accelerating the completion of the halal value chain.