Which Is More Profitable After BI Rate Rises Again?
BI Rate climbs to 5.75%. See when saving makes sense and when investing is better for your money.
JAKARTA — Which Is More Profitable After BI Rate Rises Again: Saving or Investing? That question is back on the table after Bank Indonesia lifted its benchmark rate to 5.75 percent on June 17-18, 2026.
For many households, the move sounds simple: higher rates should make saving more attractive. But financial planners say the answer depends on when the money will be used, not just on the headline rate.
BI Rate naik, tabungan ikut dilirik
Bank Indonesia raised the BI Rate by 25 basis points to 5.75 percent at the June 17-18, 2026 Board of Governors Meeting. Governor Perry Warjiyo said the decision aimed to protect the rupiah during global uncertainty and keep inflation within the government’s 2026 and 2027 target range.
The first impact usually lands on deposits and savings products. Banks may gradually adjust deposit interest, and that can make parking money in cash feel more rewarding than before. Still, higher interest on savings does not automatically beat investing over the longer haul.
Financial planner Aidil Akbar said saving and investing serve different purposes. He stressed that savings offer certainty, while investments carry risk and can rise or fall sharply.
“Saving cannot be equated with investing because saving has guarantees and is relatively safe, while investing has risk. So it cannot be concluded outright that saving is more profitable just because interest rates rise,” Aidil told CNNIndonesia.com on Friday (6/19).
He said people are also reacting to wider uncertainty, from domestic policy to the global economy and MSCI’s assessment of Indonesia’s market. In that kind of climate, many households prefer instruments that feel calmer. Deposits and U.S. dollars are still drawing attention.
“People are still putting more money into deposits and forex, especially U.S. dollars, rather than investing,” he said.
Deposits may look better, but only for now
Financial planner One Shieldt Budi Rahardjo offered a similar view. He said higher interest rates can make deposits look more appealing in the short term, especially when stock prices remain choppy.
Stocks are more sensitive to market sentiment. So when uncertainty stays high, some investors step back. Fast move. Short pause.
“For the short term, it can be said that saving or placing funds in deposits looks more profitable than investing in high-risk instruments such as stocks in the current market conditions,” Budi said.
That does not mean deposits always win. Their returns are limited and usually move slowly, while stocks and mutual funds can deliver much higher gains over time if the market recovers. The trade-off is obvious: certainty now, or possible growth later.
Budi said people with long-term goals should not get trapped by short-term comfort. When markets correct, the drop can create buying opportunities for assets that may recover once the economy improves.
“If the orientation is long term, a moment like this can be used to buy assets that are currently corrected but have the potential to return to normal when the economy improves,” he said.
So what this means for savers
For readers, the practical impact is direct. Money meant for emergencies, rent, installments, or expenses in the next three to six months fits better in savings or deposits. The priority there is access and safety, not chasing return.
Money for college fees, retirement, or another goal years away needs a different approach. Investing gives that money a better chance to grow, though the choice still has to match risk tolerance. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and gold each behave differently.
The BI Rate increase may also push more money toward deposits in the short run, while capital-market products could see lighter demand until conditions settle. Deposit rates may rise gradually, but not every bank adjusts at the same pace. Investment prices, meanwhile, can move quickly after any shift in interest-rate expectations.
That is why the comparison is not simply about who pays more today. It is about the job the money has to do. If the job is safety, saving wins. If the job is growth, investing still has the edge. And for many people, the smarter move is to split the difference rather than bet everything on one side.
Aidil put it bluntly: “So it cannot be concluded outright that saving is more profitable just because interest rates rise,” he said.
The next round of bank deposit adjustments will show how quickly lenders pass on the higher BI Rate, and that number may decide where many Indonesians park their cash next.
