Money dealers enjoy brisk holiday trade

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Travelers going home for Idul Fitri do not have to look far to find crisp money in small denominations to give away to children in their home villages as a way to spread happiness during the holiday.

At the front gates of Pulogadung bus terminal in East Jakarta, "money sellers" jump at people coming in, even as they are still sitting on the ojek (motorcycle taxis) that bring them.

A pack of 100 new Rp 1,000 (12 U.S. cents) notes is offered at Rp 110,000, or less, if one can bargain hard enough. "But not less than Rp 105,000," Samosir, a housewife who sells money before Idul Fitri, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The sellers buy their crisp money from larger vendors, who collect the money well before the holy month.

They pay between Rp 25,000 and Rp 30,000 to change Rp 1 million.

The travelers usually seek new Rp 1,000 or Rp 5,000 denominations. To get customers, Samosir offers the money to passengers in the terminal yard and inside the buses.

A day's work brings her at least Rp 50,000, said the woman from Medan. "It's not much."

Samosir also said on Monday that representatives from Bank Indonesia came to the terminal to exchange smaller bills for larger denominations. "But they would only let you have up to Rp 1 million in change."

Although people normally change money for free at banks, it is quite difficult now to find new small bills there.

"Usually they only let you change money if you know somebody inside," said a lady as she changed Rp 500,000 in large bills into Rp 1,000 bills at Bank Rakyat Indonesia in Sudirman, Central Jakarta. "But it never hurts to try," she added.

"This is our last package," said a cashier there. He said they were still waiting for Bank Indonesia to send new money.

At Bank Indonesia, only employees can change money, said the notes pasted on the counters' windows. However, an employee told the Post, "Just come tomorrow at 8 a.m."

"By 11.30 a.m., the new small bills will usually be gone," he added.