BI Bali Launches Website to Combat Illegal Foreign Exchange Practices
Denpasar — Bank Indonesia’s (BI) Bali office has launched the moneychangerbali.com website as an information resource for foreign tourists to combat illegal foreign exchange money changer (KUPVA BB) operations on the island.
“We will continue to strengthen our licensing and supervisory functions,” stated Erwin Soeriadimadja, head of BI Bali, in Denpasar on Friday.
The online portal allows visitors to locate the nearest licensed KUPVA BB or authorised money changer. Tourists and the public seeking to exchange foreign currency to rupiah or vice versa can identify legitimate operators by the following characteristics: the business holds an official certificate from Bank Indonesia; displays a clearly registered company name; and displays the licensed KUPVA BB logo with an accompanying QR code.
Based on 2025 data, BI Bali records 601 licensed KUPVA BB office networks, the second largest concentration in Indonesia, with primary concentrations in three tourist destinations: Badung Regency, Gianyar Regency, and Denpasar City.
This extensive network demonstrates the strategic importance of the KUPVA BB industry on the island in supporting economic activity, particularly in the tourism sector.
Beyond providing location information for licensed KUPVA BB operators, the website also offers a reporting channel for illegal foreign exchange activities through the BI-PATROL portal.
“Various enforcement measures against illegal money changers require synergy and cross-institutional collaboration, including with regional government, foreign exchange associations, law enforcement, and customary institutions,” Soeriadimadja said.
Ni Made Tirtaningsih, chair of the Bali Foreign Exchange Association (APVA), highlighted how illegal foreign exchange operations pose consumer risks and damage Bali and Indonesia’s tourism image globally.
Several customary village regulations (perarem) have been established in the Kuta, Seminyak and Legian areas of Badung Regency that explicitly prohibit illegal foreign exchange operations.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster emphasised that KUPVA BB businesses are a crucial component of Bali’s tourism ecosystem whose integrity and credibility must be maintained.
“Enforcing action against illegal money exchange operations is a strategic step in realising quality tourism for Bali with global competitiveness,” Koster stated. “I also encourage involvement of customary villages as a form of local wisdom in addressing illegal money changer practices.”