Efficiency Evaluation of Islamic Commercial Banks in Indonesia Using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA): A Panel Data Approach

The efficiency of Islamic commercial banks is a crucial determinant of their competitiveness and long-term sustainability, especially in a dynamic financial environment, such as Indonesia. Despite rapid growth in the Islamic banking sector, questions persist regarding whether these banks are operating at optimal efficiency levels. This study aims to evaluate the technical efficiency of Islamic commercial banks in Indonesia over the period 2015–2024 by employing Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) with a translog production function applied to balanced panel data. The model incorporated key input variables, including total assets, labor expenses, and operational costs, with financing used as a proxy for output performance. Empirical findings revealead that an average technical efficiency score of 0.784, suggesting notable inefficiencies across the sector. Among the sampled institutions, BCA Syariah Bank and Mega Syariah Bank consistently outperform their peers, while Victoria Syariah Bank showed persistently low efficiency due to operational shortcomings. The estimated gamma parameter (0.886) further indicated that inefficiency significantly explains the variation in output among banks, validating the use of the SFA model. The study underscores the urgent need for strategic improvements in operational management, resource allocation, and digital transformation initiatives. In addition, regulatory bodies are encouraged to strengthen institutional frameworks and promote innovation and human capital development.