JAKARTA — The BI Rate has risen again to 5.75 percent. The immediate question: is money safer in a savings account, or should it be moved into investments?
The increase in Bank Indonesia’s benchmark rate has made many people look at deposits. But two financial planners say the decision is not as simple as comparing savings interest with potential investment returns.
BI Rate rises, interest in savings gets a boost
Bank Indonesia raised the BI Rate by 25 basis points to 5.75 percent at the June 17-18, 2026 Board of Governors Meeting. Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo said the move was taken to maintain the rupiah’s exchange-rate stability amid global uncertainty and keep inflation within the government’s target for 2026 and 2027.
For the public, the fastest effect is usually felt in savings products. Bank deposits may start offering higher interest than before. But that does not automatically make saving more profitable than investing, especially when the financial goal is long term.
Financial planner Aidil Akbar said saving and investing cannot be treated as the same thing because their basic characteristics are different. Saving, he said, offers security and certainty, while investing carries higher risk.
“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 now calculating more cautiously. Uncertainty is coming from many directions. Government policy, the direction of the global economy, and the MSCI global index assessment of Indonesia’s financial market all affect how people place their funds.
In situations like this, some people choose instruments they consider calmer. Deposits and U.S. dollars remain popular, while riskier instruments are being held back.
“People are still putting more money into deposits and forex, especially U.S. dollars, rather than investing,” he said.
Deposits look appealing, stocks still have room
Financial planner One Shieldt Budi Rahardjo has a similar view. He said higher interest rates can make savings instruments such as deposits look more attractive, at least in the short term.
A choppy financial market also makes some investors hold back. Stocks, which are generally more sensitive to market sentiment, become less appealing to some people when conditions remain unstable.
“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.
At this point, the word “profitable” needs to be read carefully. Returns from deposits come from interest that is relatively certain. Returns from stocks or stock mutual funds come from rising asset prices, which can climb quickly but also fall sharply in a short time. Both are valid. Both have a place. It just depends on fit.
Budi warned that if a financial goal does not stop at three months or one year, an overly defensive choice may not be the right one. When markets correct, there may even be a chance to buy assets at prices below their normal value.
“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.
Saving or investing depends on goals and risk profile
The planners’ statements point to one thing: the best decision depends on the purpose of the money. Funds for emergencies, near-term installments, or needs three to six months ahead are more reasonably placed in liquid, relatively safe instruments. Savings and deposits fit that role.
If the goal is college funds several years away, retirement savings, or another long-term target, investing has more room. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and gold each have different characteristics, so the choice should match each person’s risk profile.
The higher BI Rate also sends another signal: the market is likely to be more cautious in the near term. Budi expects public funds to flow more into deposits because the interest rate has become more attractive. Meanwhile, allocations to capital-market products such as stocks and bonds may be more limited in the short run.
Even so, he does not recommend putting all funds in one place. Diversification remains important. With the right asset mix, risk can be controlled without losing return potential.
The BI Rate change also affects expectations for financial products. Deposit rates may rise gradually, but adjustments do not always show up immediately at every bank. Meanwhile, investment asset prices can move quickly following interest-rate sentiment, inflation, and the global market direction. That is why comparing saving and investing only by interest-rate numbers is often misleading.
If safety is the goal, savings and deposits have the edge. If the goal is long-term growth of funds, investing still has greater upside. The mistake many people make is usually not the instrument itself, but the mismatch in time horizon.
Aidil closed with a simple but relevant point: saving is safe, investing is risky. The rise in the BI Rate does change the calculation, but it does not automatically change the basic function of either one. “So it cannot be concluded outright that saving is more profitable just because interest rates rise,” he said.
In short, use savings for daily reserves and near-term funds. Put money meant to grow into investments. That is where a more sensible decision is usually found.
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