BNI Secures ‘Leadership in Corporate Governance’ for the Second Consecutive Year at the 17th IICD Awards 2026

JAKARTA — PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BNI) has once again cemented its reputation as a benchmark for financial transparency, accountability, and operational excellence. The state-owned banking titan has successfully defended its prestigious "Leadership in Corporate Governance" title at the 17th Indonesian Institute for Corporate Directorship (IICD) Corporate Governance Award 2026.

This back-to-back triumph underscores BNI’s unwavering commitment to embedding world-class Good Corporate Governance (GCG) principles across its extensive business ecosystem. Beyond retaining its highest-tier governance rating, BNI also secured a coveted spot in the Top 50 BigCap Public Listed Companies and emerged as a frontrunner within the elite KBMI 4 banking cluster—home to Indonesia’s financial institutions with the largest core capital.

Main Facts: A Milestone of Excellence in Governance

The 17th IICD Corporate Governance Award 2026 served as a national barometer for corporate transparency, accountability, and ethical management among Indonesia’s public companies. BNI’s victory highlights several critical milestones:

• Two-Year Consecutive Reign: Having upgraded from the Best Overall category in 2025 to Leadership in Corporate Governance, BNI successfully defended the latter top-tier title in 2026, proving that its governance framework is sustainable and deeply institutionalized.
• Elite Recognition: BNI was ranked among the Top 50 BigCap Public Listed Companies, reaffirming its position among Indonesia’s market heavyweights.
• KBMI 4 Dominance: BNI achieved the highest standard of corporate governance implementation within the KBMI 4 category (banks with core capital exceeding Rp 70 trillion), standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the country’s most well-capitalized institutions.
• International Benchmarking: The IICD evaluation is grounded in the rigorous ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) methodology, assessing transparency, disclosure, board responsibilities, sustainability practices, and the protection of shareholder rights.

Chronology: The Path to Sustained Governance Leadership

BNI’s journey to becoming a perennial leader in corporate governance did not happen overnight. It is the result of a multi-year strategic roadmap designed to transform internal controls, modernize risk architecture, and align with global best practices.

• The Transformative Year (2025): BNI made a notable leap in the national corporate governance landscape during the 2025 IICD Awards. By shifting focus from mere regulatory compliance to value-driven stewardship, the bank transitioned from the Best Overall tier to capture the esteemed Leadership in Corporate Governance designation for the first time.
• The Integration Phase (Throughout 2025–2026): Building on its 2025 success, BNI institutionalized GCG principles deeper into its operational veins. The bank overhauled its risk management matrices, enhanced digital disclosure channels, and aligned its strategic execution with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets.
• The Defense and Validation (October 20, 2026): The culmination of these continuous improvements bore fruit at the 17th IICD Corporate Governance Award 2026. On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, IICD officially announced BNI as a dual-year holder of the Leadership in Corporate Governance title, validating the bank’s relentless pursuit of institutional excellence.

Supporting Data: The Rigorous Methodology Behind the Award

To fully understand the weight of BNI’s achievement, one must examine the evaluation framework utilized by the Indonesian Institute for Corporate Directorship (IICD). The IICD assessment is widely regarded as the most stringent and objective corporate governance evaluation in Indonesia.

The ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) Framework

The IICD evaluates public companies based on the ACGS methodology, which is divided into five core pillars:

1. Facilitation of Shareholders’ Rights: Ensuring equitable treatment of all shareholders, including minority stakeholders, and promoting active participation in General Meetings of Shareholders (GMS).
2. Equitable Treatment of Shareholders: Guaranteeing that all shareholders receive relevant information and protecting them against abusive actions by insiders or controlling owners.
3. Role of Stakeholders: Acknowledging the legal, contractual, and social rights of employees, customers, suppliers, creditors, and local communities.
4. Disclosure and Transparency: Maintaining high standards of timely and accurate disclosure on all material matters, including financial performance, ownership, and governance structures.
5. Responsibilities of the Board: Ensuring strategic guidance of the company, effective monitoring of management by the board, and the board’s accountability to the company and its shareholders.

KBMI 4 Standing and Market Capitalization

As a member of the KBMI 4 group, BNI operates in a highly scrutinized environment. Managing trillions of rupiah in assets requires sophisticated risk oversight. BNI’s ability to outshine or match its peers within the big-cap ecosystem demonstrates that rapid scaling does not have to come at the expense of sound governance and internal controls.

Official Responses: Voices from BNI Leadership

Reacting to the prestigious accolade, BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo emphasized that governance is much more than a box-ticking exercise for the state-owned lender. For BNI, it forms the lifeblood of sustainable corporate operations.

"For BNI, corporate governance is not merely a matter of fulfilling regulatory requirements, but it serves as the foundational bedrock for maintaining the trust of shareholders, customers, and all stakeholders," stated Okki in an official written statement on Tuesday (20/10/2026).

Okki further elaborated on how the bank views GCG in the context of broader industry transformations. As the financial sector faces rapid digitization, shifting macroeconomic conditions, and evolving cyber-security threats, the demand for robust risk management has never been higher.

"We continue to strengthen the implementation of good governance principles to ensure that every business decision is executed responsibly and supports the company’s long-term sustainability," Okki added.

He pointed out that BNI has continuously fostered a culture of prudence, proactive risk management, and uncompromising integrity across all organizational tiers. This deliberate cultural alignment ensures that business transformation programs—ranging from digital retail banking upgrades to corporate lending restructuring—proceed smoothly without compromising institutional stability.

Implications: Driving Long-Term Value and National Economic Impact

The implications of BNI securing the Leadership in Corporate Governance award for two consecutive years extend far beyond a shiny trophy or corporate pride. It triggers profound positive impacts on multiple fronts:

1. Fortifying Public and Investor Trust

In the banking sector, trust is the ultimate currency. By demonstrating independent, transparent, and ethical governance, BNI reassures international institutional investors, retail shareholders, and everyday depositors that their funds are managed with the utmost care and professional rigor. This trust directly translates into a lower cost of capital and stronger investor confidence during capital-raising initiatives.

2. Alignment with Danantara Indonesia and State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) Transformation

As a vital state-owned enterprise (BUMN) operating within the ecosystem of Danantara Indonesia, BNI plays a pivotal role in the national economy. The Indonesian government’s ongoing transformation of SOEs aims to forge leaner, healthier, and globally competitive corporate entities. BNI’s governance model serves as a shining template for how state-backed institutions can blend commercial aggressiveness with exemplary public accountability.

3. Approaching Eight Decades of Resilience

As BNI approaches its momentous eighth-decade milestone, the bank faces mounting expectations from regulators, customers, and society at large. The financial landscape of the 21st century demands agility coupled with ironclad compliance. By continuously raising its governance bar, BNI is future-proofing its operations against systemic shocks, regulatory headwinds, and market volatility.

4. Catalyst for the National Banking Industry

BNI’s leadership in the KBMI 4 cluster sets a high standard for the entire Indonesian banking industry. When a market leader prioritizes minority shareholder protection, rigorous disclosure standards, and ethical board oversight, it creates a healthy ripple effect, encouraging other financial institutions to elevate their own governance standards.

Conclusion

BNI’s triumph at the 17th IICD Corporate Governance Award 2026 is a testament to perseverance, strategic foresight, and an unyielding corporate culture anchored in integrity. Defending the Leadership in Corporate Governance title for two consecutive years proves that BNI’s commitment to GCG is not a fleeting trend, but a deeply embedded operational philosophy.

As the bank marches toward its 80th anniversary, armed with robust risk management, transparent disclosure practices, and the support of the Danantara Indonesia ecosystem, BNI remains exceptionally well-positioned to drive sustainable financial growth, safeguard stakeholder interests, and serve as a cornerstone of the Indonesian economy.