larmingly, only 22 percent of people with disabilities (PwD), the elderly and vulnerable groups in Indonesia have bank accounts, as per 2022 data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK). This points to a vast chasm that lies in contrast to Indonesia’s Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) target of 98 percent financial inclusion by 2045.

Presidential Regulation No. 114/2000 also included PwD and the elderly in social welfare programs, yet their access to financial services has not kept up with their increasing economic participation.

With the rise of digital financial services, PwD face challenges and gaps when they attempt to access financial products. This is why interventions must be prioritized to enhance digital financial literacy and disability-inclusion sensitivity. OJK released the SETARA Guideline to address this growing digital divide. It provides a comprehensive framework to enhance financial inclusion for PwD in Indonesia. Yet, the implementation lacks actionable steps with defined targets from financial service providers (FSPs), regulators and the government.

The study conducted by Opportunity International Australia (OIA), MicroSave Consulting (MSC) and Koperasi Mitra Dhuafa (KOMIDA), and funded by the Australian government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) finds that digital financial services can significantly improve financial access for PwD. Services, such as digital bank account opening, reduce the need for physical mobility, while FinTech lending offers simpler, more accessible alternatives to traditional bank credit.