DREAMING BIG DURING DIFFICULT TIMES

SEVERAL top-row banks are planning to become regional players. Although in terms of market capitalization this is still very hard, so far three banks have taken up the challenge: BCA, BRI, and Bank Mandiri. However, this "dreaming big" still covers many other areas, including bureaucracy in countries that are expansion targets. In the domestic market, the top banks mentioned above are fighting head-to-head.

Mid-row banks are also now focusing more and more on core businesses after being acquired by foreign players. They are becoming even more enthusiastic about competing in the domestic market, which is still wide open. In addition to China, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, India is now becoming more aggressive. Which local players will manage to hold out, drop down a class, or be prepared to be acquired by a foreign player in the future that looks difficult in terms of the current, tight regulations?