BI: Circulating banknotes remain valid despite changes in Finance Minister and Governor
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Bank Indonesia (BI) has emphasised that Rupiah banknotes produced in 2026 and circulated within the community remain valid as a means of payment, despite the recent change in the Minister of Finance and the Governor of Bank Indonesia.
Previously circulating on social media, Rupiah banknotes bearing the signature of former Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa became highly sought after by the public due to claims of rarity.
“The change of the Minister of Finance or the Governor of Bank Indonesia does not affect the validity of the Rupiah money that has been produced and circulated,” said the Head of the BI Communication Department, Ramdan Denny Prakoso, in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Ramdan explained that the 2026 print-year banknotes, which feature the signatures of Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as Minister of Finance and Perry Warjiyo as Governor of Bank Indonesia, were produced according to established printing processes and remain legal tender within the territory of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
“Furthermore, Rupiah money produced in subsequent periods will be adjusted to include the signatures of the Minister of Finance and the Governor of Bank Indonesia currently in office, in accordance with the provisions and stages of Rupiah money management,” said Ramdan.
The current Minister of Finance is Suahasil Nazara, while the Governor of Bank Indonesia is Destry Damayanti.
Suahasil was inaugurated as the new Finance Minister to replace Purbaya on 14 September 2026, as stipulated in the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia No. 97/P of 2026.
Meanwhile, after Perry resigned from his position last July, Destry briefly served as the Acting Governor of Bank Indonesia. Destry officially became the Governor of BI after taking her oath of office on 2 September 2026, as per the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia No. 92/P of 2026 dated 1 September 2026.
For information, Rupiah banknotes must at a minimum contain the signatures of both the Government and Bank Indonesia.
This is in accordance with Article 5, paragraph (1), point d of Law Number 7 of 2011 concerning Currency, as amended by Law Number 4 of 2023 concerning the Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector (UU P2SK).
In the explanation of these provisions, the Government is represented by the Minister of Finance, and Bank Indonesia is represented by the Governor of Bank Indonesia.
Consequently, the signatures appearing on Rupiah banknotes are the signatures of the Minister of Finance and the Governor of Bank Indonesia in office at the time of the designated production process of the currency.