Bank Negara Indonesia

Bank Negara Indonesia

Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) is an Indonesian bank with branches primarily located in Indonesia, but also in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, and New York. In 2006, it had 1000 branches and over 9 million customers. It is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange as "BBNI," with a market capitalization of approximately US$2.6 billion as of 12 March 2007.

BNI was established on 5 July 1946 and was intended to be the Central Bank of Indonesia, responsible for issuing and handling Indonesian currency. A few months after its establishment, BNI officially distributed the first official currency of Indonesia - ORI or Oeang Republik Indonesia.
Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) had its role shifted to that of a development bank after the appointment of De Javasche Bank as the Central Bank of Indonesia. Following increased capitalization in 1955, the legal status of BNI was changed into that of a commercial bank, and it officially opened its first foreign branch in Singapore that same year.

After a merger period with several other commercial banks, BNI's function and individuality were restored in 1968, with its official name changed to 'Bank Negara Indonesia 1946'. The bank underwent an operational restructuring program to improve its performance, and changed its corporate logo to a sailing boat to signify its aspiration to play a more international role.

In 1992, state-run banks were given the opportunity to change their legal status into Limited State-Owned Corporations, with BNI's name officially replaced with 'PT. Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero)'. The bank became a public company in 1996 through an initial public offering of its shares, and underwent the government's banking recapitalization program after the economic crisis.

In 2004, BNI introduced a new logo and shortened its nickname to "BNI'46".