Money Exchange Services Generate Substantial Profits Ahead of Eid, Earnings Reaching Hundreds of Millions of Rupiah

BANDUNG BARAT — Ahead of Eid al-Fitr, money exchange services are proliferating along Padalarang Road in West Bandung Regency (KBB), West Java. Operators capitalise on the seasonal surge in public demand for small denomination notes and freshly printed currency, which are traditionally distributed during the Eid holidays.

Several business operators have set up along the roadside, parking personal vehicles to serve as transaction points for currency exchange. They offer various banknote denominations ranging from Rp2,000, Rp5,000, Rp10,000 to Rp20,000 to passing motorists.

“This happens every year, only during Ramadan. The demand for small change currency exchange increases significantly during this month,” said Marlita, 56, one of the money exchange service vendors in Padalarang, on Monday (9 March 2026).

Behind her vehicle window, she waits for passing motorists to stop and exchange currency. From each transaction, Marlita earns approximately 15 percent profit margin on the total amount exchanged. In essence, every transaction generates a value differential that becomes the service provider’s profit.

“The profit is 15 percent of the money exchanged. For example, if someone exchanges 1 million rupiah, there is an additional profit of 150,000 rupiah,” she explained.

Through these currency exchange transactions, Marlita generates substantial earnings. For instance, during the holy month of Ramadan in the previous year, a single exchange point’s currency turnover reached hundreds of millions of rupiah.