New Banknote Exchange Services Overwhelmed by Public Demand

Citizens display new banknotes after exchanging them at a Bank Indonesia mobile cash service in Bandar Lampung, Lampung, on Tuesday (24 February 2026). The Bank Indonesia Lampung Provincial Representative Office has prepared Rp4.5 trillion in cash to meet the demand for new banknotes from local residents during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri, with services available at 57 locations, with a maximum exchange limit of Rp5.3 million per person. (PHOTO: ANTARA FOTO/Ardiansyah) Citizens queue to exchange new rupiah banknotes at a Bank Indonesia (BI) mobile cash service in Banten, at the Al Azhom Mosque, Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday (24 February 2026). Bank Indonesia is once again providing new rupiah banknote exchange services through the 2026 Semarak Rupiah Ramadan and Berkah Idulfitri (SERAMBI) programme, which aims to ensure the availability of new banknotes in time for Ramadan and the upcoming Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri, with a total of Rp185.6 trillion in cash prepared nationwide, with a limit of Rp5.3 million per person. (PHOTO: ANTARA FOTO/Muhammad Iqbal) A citizen receives rupiah banknotes from a Bank Indonesia mobile cash service officer during the 2026 Semarak Rupiah Ramadan and Berkah Idulfitri (Serambi) programme at the Pontianak Tenggara Sub-district Office, Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Tuesday (24 February 2026). The service, organised by the Bank Indonesia West Kalimantan Provincial Representative Office at several public locations in the city of Pontianak, aims to meet the demand for banknotes in denominations of Rp1,000 to Rp50,000, with a maximum exchange limit of Rp5.3 million per person. (PHOTO: ANTARA FOTO/Jessica Wuysang) Citizens put money into paper bags after exchanging it for new banknotes and smaller denominations at a Bank Indonesia mobile cash service in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday (24 February 2026). The Bank Indonesia (BI) Bali Provincial Representative Office has partnered with six commercial banks to provide new banknote exchange services during Ramadan, with a maximum exchange limit of Rp5.3 million per person or ID card, and customers are required to make reservations in advance before visiting the location via the pintar.bi.go.id website. (PHOTO: ANTARA FOTO/Nyoman Hendra Wibowo) inline REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, Several new banknote exchange services are becoming crowded with people in various regions across the country. Citizens are seen queuing since morning to obtain new banknotes, which will be distributed to family and children during Eid. The increase in the number of people exchanging money is occurring at several mobile cash service locations. The queues are mainly made up of people who want to exchange large denomination banknotes for smaller denominations such as Rp2,000, Rp5,000, Rp10,000, and Rp20,000. Bank Indonesia stated that the surge in new banknote exchanges is an annual trend leading up to Eid. New banknote exchange services are officially and regularly opened, in coordination with Bank Indonesia, which prepares the distribution of new banknotes. The public is advised to exchange money at official locations to avoid potential fraud and additional fees that often occur during unofficial exchanges. It is expected that the queues for new banknote exchanges will continue to increase as Eid approaches. source: Antara Foto