DANA Indonesia launches verified digital wallet for teens

The move targets a group often overlooked in policy and product design.

DANA Indonesia has unveiled Premium Mini, a verified digital wallet for users aged 13 to under 17, aiming to give minors a structured entry into the country’s digital financial system.

The account requires parental approval, addressing barriers that have historically limited teenagers’ access to formal finance.
The move targets a group often overlooked in policy and product design. Research by DANA shows that teenagers are among the most active digital users but have been excluded from verified digital payments due to identification requirements.

The launch also supports Indonesia’s national goal of reaching 93% financial inclusion by 2029.

Official data highlights the access gap. The 2025 National Survey of Financial Literacy and Inclusion reports that only 74% of 15–17-year-olds are financially included, below the national average of 80.5%, despite their rapid adoption of digital financial services.

Vince Iswara, CEO and co-founder of DANA Indonesia, stressed the urgency of bridging this gap.

“Teenagers are already immersed in digital transactions, but they’re doing so without a bridge into formal, protected financial systems,” he told Asian Banking & Finance on the sidelines of the product launch in Jakarta in November. “You can’t tell young people to be financially responsible while giving them no legal channel to participate.”

“Financial literacy doesn’t begin at age 17—it begins the moment a child makes their first digital payment,” he added.

Premium Mini accounts have a maximum balance of $120 (IDR2m) and allow top-ups, mobile payments, and peer-to-peer transfers. Parents must approve the account and can monitor all activity, creating oversight that supports early financial learning.

The account differs from the standard DANA Premium wallet, which has a $1,198 (IDR20m) limit and includes investment and business features. Premium Mini is positioned as a protected, entry-level product for younger users.

Handayani Ningrum, director of National Population Data Integration at the Ministry of Home Affairs, highlighted the initiative’s national impact.

“It’s simple innovation with outsized impact,” she said in a speech at the product launch. She noted that more than 50 million Indonesian children don’t have national ID cards, limiting access to most financial services.

The launch aligns with government rules on child protection in digital systems, which require special safeguards for minors when accessing online financial services. With teenagers driving digital transactions, the initiative aims to integrate them responsibly into Indonesia’s financial ecosystem.

“The issue is no longer whether minors should enter digital finance,” Vince said. “The real question is how responsibly—and under what safeguards—the sector can support that transition.”