Number of Currency Exchangers Ahead of Eid al-Fitr 2026 Rises 85 Per Cent, BI Increases Service Quota

Bank Indonesia (BI) has reported exceptionally high public demand for rupiah currency exchange ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri/2026 CE, with the increase reaching more than 85 per cent compared to the previous Eid period.

“Public demand to exchange rupiah ahead of Eid al-Fitr 2026 is very high. As of 13 March 2026, the number of exchangers through official services reached 1,076,282 people, an increase of approximately 85.4 per cent compared to last year’s 580,496 people,” said M Anwar Bashori, Head of BI’s Money Management Department, in a statement to journalists on Monday (16 March 2026).

Bashori stated that to meet this demand, BI has expanded the reach of exchange services by increasing the number of service points from 5,202 the previous year to 9,294 this year. This expansion is expected to make access to exchange services more widely available and convenient for the public.

“The high demand and service expansion demonstrate that public need for small denominations for charitable sharing traditions, Eid allowance distributions, and economic activities during Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr remains very substantial,” he said.

Furthermore, Bashori indicated that in response to the high demand, BI has organised additional exchange services called Serambi Peduli Mudik (Migrant Care Foyer) on 16–17 March 2026 at 55 service locations across Indonesia. These locations focus on key migration corridors, including airports, train stations, terminals, ports, and rest areas, to facilitate exchange needs for those travelling for the holidays.

“The total quota for these additional services reaches approximately 11,900 exchange packages,” he stated.

Bashori emphasised that BI ensures the availability of rupiah in sufficient quantities and appropriate denominations through various official service channels, including mobile cash services, integrated services, and banking institutions.

“Bank Indonesia urges the public to conduct rupiah exchange only through official Bank Indonesia and banking services to guarantee the authenticity of currency and transaction security,” he said.

This is because currency exchange through unofficial buying and selling mechanisms outside official channels carries various risks. These include unverified currency authenticity, difficulty in confirming accurate amounts, lack of protection or accountability, and vulnerability to fraud that can cause financial loss to the public.