Mohammad Nur Rianto Al Arif

The process of converting a conventional bank into a fully-fledged Islamic bank is becoming a popular alternative solution, alongside spin-off, for smaller banks. Two Indonesian banks, Bank of Aceh Sharia and Bank of NTB Sharia, completed this conversion in 2016 and 2018, respectively. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine the impact of this conversion on market share, using both quantitative regression with a dummy variable and qualitative analysis through focus group discussions with executive management and in-depth interviews with the Sharia supervisory boards of the two converted banks. The study found that the conversion positively impacted market share, with the default rate and level of capital also playing a role. Prior to conversion, the Indonesian sharia banking industry had less than a 5% market share, but after the conversion, it reached 6.7%. The two converted banks were able to increase their market share to 7% and 2%, respectively. These results suggest that converting into a full-fledged Islamic bank is a viable alternative solution for smaller conventional banks, rather than opting for spin-offs or mergers.

Research on financial well-being not only employs objective measures such as income, but also utilizes a psychological approach to measure subjective well-being, which is beneficial for alleviating stress stemming from financial conditions, enhancing overall mental health, and augmenting individuals’ quality of life. This study devises a metric for financial well-being, incorporating variables such as religiosity, anti-consumption lifestyle, and financial behavior through a quantitative approach using Structural Equation Model. The research model is examined using LISREL 8.0 for data analysis drawn from a questionnaire administered to 256 Muslim respondents. The research findings revealed that good financial behavior is the main key to achieving better financial well-being, with support from an anti-consumerist lifestyle towards such financial behavior. Meanwhile, religiosity does not significantly influence financial behavior. While religiosity can have a direct positive effect on financial well-being, it does not do so through the mediation of financial behavior. An anti-consumption lifestyle itself does not directly affect financial well-being without the help of mediating supportive financial behavior. The practical implications of these research findings suggest that financial education programs should not only focus on the aspect of religiosity alone, but also be practical and applicable to all individuals regardless of their level of religiosity.