Bank Danamon Launches 'Dirham Card'
Bank September 26th, 2009
Bank Danamon Syariah launched new services such Dirham Card of Islamic credit cards, with the target of about 20 thousand sheets of these products will be published until the end of 2007.
This was conveyed by Sharia Business Head of Bank Danamon, Ahmad K. Permana told reporters at the launch Dirham cards in Surabaya, Friday (27/07).
“Initially, our target consumers in three major cities of Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya. Tenaga we soon approached marketing to offer customers new products,” he said, accompanied by the Director of Bank Danamon, and Secretary Hendarin Sukarmadji National Sharia Council (DSN) Hasanuddin.
From the target of 20 thousand pieces of targeted Dirham cards this year, about 60% expected from consumers in Jakarta, 25% of Surabaya and the rest of Bandung.
According Permana, launch plan, which used the Dirham Card International Master Card network, it has been through the various considerations, including asking for a fatwa Indonesian Ulema Council and approval of Bank Indonesia.
“We also conduct market surveys before the card was officially launched. Apparently, the very positive reception, so we pretty this product will receive the market,” he explained.
Permana express credit card transactions in Indonesia reached three billion dollars per year. But the credit card market penetration is only about two% of the total banking products.
“With a population of about 200 million more, in which 88% are Muslim, Indonesia is a very potential market for Islamic products, including Islamic credit card,” added Permana.
He added that the rules applicable to consumer Dirham Card holders, unlike ordinary credit cards, because the use of Islamic sharia, such as the covenant Ijara (leasing), kafalah (guarantee transactions) and Qard (borrowing money).
Akad ijara means the card issuer is a provider of payment systems and services to card holders with membership charge.
Kafalah is the card issuer to act as guarantor for the card holders to merchants of all obligations to pay arising from the transaction, which will receive the service returns.
Covenant was qardh is the card issuer as a lender to card holders through a cash withdrawal from a bank or a bank ATM card issuer. Card holders are obliged to return for the amount of funds withdrawn in time.
Secretary DSN, Hasanuddin added Dirham Card Bank Danamon Syariah is the first Islamic credit card launched Islamic bank in Indonesia.
“In addition to Bank Danamon, there are several other Islamic banks are also asking for a fatwa to launch similar products, such as Bank Mandiri, HSBC and others,” he said.
