Best bank - NISP
Best equity house - Bahana Securities
Best debt house - Triple A Securities
Best M&A house - Goldman Sachs
The recapitalization bonds pumped into many of Indonesia's banks to keep them alive after the 1998 financial crisis still weigh on their balance sheets. Although there is a move toward higher interest earning loans the banks still have to dispose of over Rp358 trillion ($42 billion). Last year's winner of the best bank award, BCA, is still one the better performers and has a strong reputation for its transaction business. And at times of poor credit quality and lack of lending opportunities it is definitely the business to be in. But the outlook for Indonesia is improving and banks with the ability to lend prudently to create new markets and help corporates gain access to capital are needed. The award for best bank in Indonesia therefore goes to Bank NISP.
Although NISP is small, analysts draw attention to its solid management. Its focus is lending to small and medium-size businesses and retail customers, and at 75% it has one of Indonesia's highest loan-to-deposit ratios. Over the past year it increased its assets by 51%, while NPLs fell from 4.09%