High demand as Bank Indonesia records 85.4 per cent increase in currency exchanges ahead of Eid 2026

Jakarta — Bank Indonesia (BI) has recorded that 1,076,282 people exchanged rupiah through official services ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah (Eid 2026) by 13 March 2026, representing an increase of approximately 85.4 per cent compared to 2025, when 580,496 people participated in the scheme.

“Public enthusiasm for exchanging rupiah ahead of Eid 2026 is very high,” said Muh Anwar Bashori, head of Bank Indonesia’s Money Management Department, in a written statement received in Jakarta on Monday.

To meet this demand, Bashori stated that BI has expanded its exchange service network by increasing the number of service points from 5,202 outlets in the previous year to 9,294 outlets in 2026, making access to exchange services wider and more convenient for the public.

The high demand and service expansion, according to him, reflect that public demand for small denomination notes for traditional gift-giving, holiday allowance payments (THR), and economic activities during Ramadan and Eid remains substantial.

In response to the surge in public demand, BI will operate additional exchange services called “SERAMBI Mudik Care” on 16-17 March 2026 across 55 service locations throughout Indonesia.

These additional services, he explained, will focus on high-traffic routes, such as airports, train stations, bus terminals, ports, and rest areas, to facilitate exchange needs for holiday travellers. The total quota for these additional services reaches approximately 11,900 exchange packages.

BI has ensured an adequate supply of rupiah in appropriate denominations through various official channels, including mobile cash services, integrated services, and banking institutions.

The central bank has also urged the public to conduct rupiah exchanges only through official Bank Indonesia and banking services to guarantee the authenticity of notes and transaction security.

“Currency exchanges through unofficial buy-sell mechanisms carry various risks, including no guarantee of note authenticity, difficulty in verifying accurate amounts, lack of protection or accountability, and vulnerability to fraud that could cause financial harm to the public,” said Bashori.