Microfinance strategy and its impact on profitability and operating efficiency: evidence from Indonesia

After the Asian crisis in 1998, Indonesian banking transformed very quickly into more market-oriented banking. This development increased the competition, on the one hand, and pressure to perform better financially, especially after foreign investor taking over the ownership, on the other hand. Some banks transformed their business strategies into a microfinance bank for profit motives. Such strategy jointly results in significant profitability and efficiency. Using SUR regression, it is found that for the profitability equation, the profitability relates to the size of the bank, the loan loss reserve to gross loan (LLRGL), equity ratio (ETA) and fixed asset ratio (FIXASEQ). For operating efficiency (CIR), the result is similar and only the sign is different. Interestingly that for profitability, the microfinance strategy (MFS) is significant, but not for operating cost efficiency. It implies the need for more cost efficient commercial banks entering microfinance business as it will benefit small borrowers in terms of lower interest margin.