STRATEGI PERBANKAN SYARIAH DALAM MENINGKATKAN INKLUSI KEUANGAN DI WILAYAH BANTEN: PELUANG DAN TANTANGAN

Abstract

This research discusses the strategy of Islamic banking in increasing financial inclusion in the Banten region by analyzing the opportunities and challenges that exist. Banten Province is the center of increasing the Islamic economy and finance in Indonesia, marked by the presence of the Sharia Tower, which is an area that is part of the center of Islamic civilization in Indonesia and even globally in terms of implementing and increasing the Islamic economy and finance. Banten also has a Muslim majority population with the slogan of faith and piety, ranking 2nd in the number of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia with a total of 5,344 Islamic boarding schools. The challenges faced include access to Islamic financial services which is still lacking and uneven to rural areas, the Islamic economic and financial literacy index is also not significant including the Banten region. The results of the study show that the strategy that can be carried out is to provide education to the Banten community widely regarding Islamic economic and financial literacy (knowledge, skills, attitudes, behavior, and beliefs towards financial service institutions), provide community-based financial services/agencies for various Islamic financial services, and collaborate with Islamic boarding schools, business sectors, mosques, and other communities to develop Islamic financial inclusion in Banten.