Bank Indonesia Opens Mobile Currency Exchange Service at Stations and Rest Areas Ahead of Mass Exodus

Jakarta — Bank Indonesia (BI) has launched a mobile currency exchange service providing direct new currency exchanges through mobile cash counters on 16 and 17 March 2026.

Muh. Anwar Bashori, Head of BI’s Currency Management Department, stated that this mobile service represents an additional exchange service called SERAMBI Peduli Mudik (SERAMBI Caring for Exodus). This follows previous exchange services made available through the Pintar BI application and banking institutions.

“As we approach the peak of the mass exodus in two days, residents still require currency services. Therefore, on 16 and 17 March, we are providing mobile exchange services at key locations where travellers are passing through,” he said in a statement on Monday (16/3/2026).

He disclosed that the mobile exchange service provides a total of 12,000 exchange packages, intended to serve travellers before they reach their home villages. This is considerably fewer than the over 1.2 million exchange packages available through the Pintar BI application across all of Indonesia.

“Our hope is that citizens who have not yet had the opportunity to withdraw funds through the Pintar application or have not withdrawn from banks can still access new currency through mobile cash counters at designated locations from today through Tuesday, ensuring they have the cash they need for their families during the exodus,” he said.

He advised the public to only exchange Indonesian rupiah through official BI and banking services to guarantee currency authenticity and transaction security.

Currency exchange through unofficial buy-sell mechanisms carries various risks, including unverified currency authenticity, inability to confirm accurate amounts, lack of protection or accountability, and susceptibility to fraud that can cause financial harm to citizens.

Today, one mobile cash counter service from the SERAMBI Peduli Mudik programme opened at Gambir Station in Central Jakarta. BI deployed two mobile cash counter units to serve the public’s currency exchange needs.

There are no special requirements for exchanging currency at this mobile service. However, officials have limited exchanges to one transaction per person with a maximum of one bundle per currency denomination.