Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, is a mosaic of diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant marine life. From the lush terraces of Bali and the ancient temples of Borobudur to the bustling streets of Jakarta and the untouched beaches of the Gili Islands, Indonesia offers a kaleidoscope of experiences. Navigating this vast and varied country requires a good understanding of the local cash and ATMs in Indonesia including which payment options are accepted. This guide will provide you with the financial insights needed to explore Indonesia’s rich tapestry of natural and cultural wonders with ease and confidence, ensuring a journey filled with unforgettable moments.
Cash or card?
Cash is widely accepted, but card acceptance is increasing in urban areas. Tourists often use cash with an estimated 70-80% of transactions in cash.
Cash for:
Street food vendors
Tuk-tuks and local taxis
Many tour operators, especially local or small-scale ones
Street shopping
Small purchases
Public buses
Local markets and bazaars
Many hostels and budget hotels
Food from local restaurants, especially in less touristy areas
Local trains (in some areas, ticket machines might not accept cards)
Tips and gratuities in many places
Entry fees for some temples, museums, and historical sites
Card for:
Car rentals
Online bookings for hotels, flights, and tours
Entry fees for major tourist attractions and theme parks in major tourist areas
Expensive tour operators
Professional pre-paid taxi booking services (such as in larger cities)
Shopping in malls and branded stores in major cities
Tailoring services in major cities
Spas in major tourist areas
Fancy sit-down restaurants in major tourist areas
Upmarket hotels
Good looking coffee shops in major tourist areas
So where to get cash?
There are 2 main ways to get the cash in Indonesia. They are:
ATMs, or
Currency exchange
Pro-tip: Avoid buying Indonesia Rupiah in your home country. It’s not a popular currency so it’ll be hard to find at home and if you do, the exchange rate will be poor.
Find ATMs in Indonesia at:
With a vast array of over 100,000 ATMs, finding one in Indonesian cities and towns is usually straightforward. But in cities, off the main streets, ATMs might not be available. Common locations include airports, markets, tourist streets, malls, and banks.
These are the places where it will be difficult to find ATMs:
Small airports
Islands
Regional bus stops
Interior of the villages
In small towns, off the main streets
Religious places
Remote resorts and retreats
Popular banks with ATMs in Indonesia
Bank Mandiri
BCA
Danamon
Maybank
Permata Bank
BTN
BPTN
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
Some international banks also have their ATMs in Indonesia, namely:
HSBC
Standard Chartered
Commonwealth Bank
Global ATM alliance: Global ATM Alliance is a partnership among many banks in the world to allow its customers to withdraw cash from all partner banks abroad without any ATM fee. Many banks in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and Latin America are part of the Global ATM Alliance, including Bank of America, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and others. BUT, there is no local bank in Indonesia part of this network. So don’t rely on this.
Where to find currency exchanges?
For exchanging money in Indonesia, consider:
Authorised currency exchange centres: Found in tourist areas, Indonesia has regional brands like MPB, BMC, Dua Sisi, and many local shops that are equally reliable.
Banks: Convert your currency to Rupiah at bank branches, especially for currencies like US dollars, Euros, Pounds, Japanese Yen, Thai Baht, and Singapore dollars. Expect a commission fee of 0.5% to 2% per transaction.
Hotels and airports: Both offer currency exchange services, but rates may not be the best. Some larger hotels may have rates similar to banks.
Gold shops: Unique to Indonesia and some Southeast Asian countries, gold shops often offer currency exchange with excellent rates and no fees.
Tips:
Avoid exchanging at airports for better rates.
Beware of the black market to avoid scams.
Bring new notes for better rates or lower fees.
For US dollars, larger bills typically yield higher rates.
Accepted currencies:
Indonesia mainly accepts its local currency Indonesian Rupiah (IDR or Rp). Don’t be shocked with notes like 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, and 100,000! These are denominations but their value is insignificantly low compared to the US Dollar, Euro or Pound.
US Dollar: You can use US Dollars in some touristic areas only at some specific hotels and tour operators. But if you pay in US Dollar and not in Rupiah, the exchange rate in these payments will be poor. So pay in Rupiah unless you like losing a lot of money!
Euro: Not accepted
Pound: Not accepted
Know the ATMs in Indonesia
Foreign debit and credit cards usage:
Absolutely, ATMs in Indonesia are well-equipped for foreign card transactions.
Types of cards at ATMs
ATMs in Indonesia will mainly accept Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, JCB, and, Maestro cards. Some ATMs may accept UnionPay, and Plus cards. Don’t expect them to accept Amex, Diners, Discover, or Rupay cards.
Types of cards to swipe
While swiping, you’ll find Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. There are fewer locations, however, that may accept Amex and other card variants.
Opening hours
Standalone ATMs provide 24-hour access all week long. But for ATMs inside banks, you might need to visit between 9 am and 3 pm.
Workings and functionalities of the ATMs
ATMs in Indonesia are modern and user-friendly, akin to those in the US, UK, Europe, and other developed regions. Keep an eye out to retrieve your card from ATMs that pull it in during the transaction.
ATM names
Word ATM is widely used
PIN type
ATMs in Indonesia primarily accept 6-digit PINs, but 4-digit PINs are also accepted
Also, many merchants used old machines which require a magnetic stripe on the card and not just a chip-and-pin card.
Language options
Indonesian ATMs typically offer Indonesian and English. If these languages don’t work for you, Google Translate’s camera function is a useful fallback, but it’s best to take your time while translating.
Know the foreign exchanges in Indonesia
Foreign debit and credit cards usage:
Currency exchanges prefer hard cash for exchange, especially at gold shops. Visa is accepted at many places, mastercard next. Please be mindful of the fees you will pay if you use your card at a currency exchange.
Opening hours
Hard cash is especially preferred at currency exchanges, notably at gold shops. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at many locations, but be cautious of the fees when using cards.
Languages to interact in
Staff at currency exchanges in Indonesia can usually interact in 2 languages– Indonesian and English
Exchange names
Currency exchange facilities are sometimes simply termed as ‘Currency Exchange’, ‘Forex’, or ‘Exchange’.
ATM withdrawal limit and ATM Fees
Withdrawal limit: ATMs typically restrict the withdrawal per transaction from Rp 1.25 million to Rp 3 million. Some banks have no limits and allow you to withdraw as much as your bank card allows.
ATM fees: In Indonesia, the range of ATM fees goes from Rp 0 to Rp 100,000, depending on your card type (visa, master, etc.) and issuing country of your card. Which means you can find some some ATM brands that charge absolutely no fees!
Ways to avoid high fees
For ATMs:
Use fee-free ATMs in the country.
Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
Consider getting fee-free cards from your home country.
For more in-depth insights and alternative methods, check out our detailed article, Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
For currency exchanges:
Avoid no-fee exchange offices at all costs to get money in Indonesia – If they say no fee, which means they account for their fee in the exchange rate. Nothing is ever free in currency exchanges
Avoid using credit and debit cards for direct transactions
Don’t buy Indonesian Rupiah in your home country – Its not a popular currency and you’ll get poor exchange rates
Don’t carry a lot of Indonesian Rupiah back home – Again, exchange rate to sell will be poor. And mostly, it wont even be bought back by currency exchanges outside of Indonesia.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs
Find fee-free ATMs, currency exchange, and money transfer services in Indonesia with the ATM Fee Saver app. It displays the fees and withdrawal limits for foreign card users at Indonesiaese ATMs. The app’s calculator allows you to determine the exact fees for your withdrawals. Moreover, it navigates you to the ATM of your choice and includes details for 50 countries, including Indonesia.
Money and safety
Carrying cash
Carrying a sensible amount of cash in Indonesia varies depending on the location. Main streets and Bali are prone to pickpocketing and theft, while other cities may be safer. To safely carry cash:
Distribute your cash across different locations.
Use a safety belt or fanny pack for some of your cash.
Avoid displaying a large amount of cash publicly.
Be discreet when making payments.
Store your wallet in front pockets for better safety.
Be cautious with your belongings in crowded public spaces.
Safety at ATMs & currency exchanges
Generally, ATMs in Indonesia are equipped with security features such as cameras and guards, and incidents of crime near ATMs are relatively low, although pickpocketing can be more frequent. There have been some instances of hidden cameras being installed near ATMs’ keypads in Indonesia to capture PINs, so it’s advisable to shield the keypad while entering your PIN.
For a safer experience:
Prefer ATMs Inside Banks: Choose ATMs located within bank premises for enhanced security.
Keep an Eye on Transactions: Regularly review your credit card transactions via your bank’s app or online service, and promptly report any suspicious activity.
Use Caution on Public Wi-Fi: When accessing online banking or making credit card transactions, be wary of public Wi-Fi networks. Consider using a VPN for additional security.
Maintain Card Visibility: Make sure your credit card is always visible during transactions and avoid letting merchants take it out of your sight.
Carry an Extra Card: Traveling with two credit cards is a smart move, providing a backup in case one encounters any problems.
When using ATMs overseas, including in Indonesia, it’s important to adhere to these safety measures. For more detailed advice, please refer to our dedicated articles:
Top 8 Things to Avoid While Travelling Abroad: ATM Series
Top 8 Things Not to Do When Travelling Abroad: ATM Series
Lastly, for currency exchanges, ensure you only use authorized and registered establishments.
FAQs
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost?
Yes, there are many that do not charge any fees to foreign card holders. Use ATM Fee Saver to find those free ATMs. Of course, there might be fees from your bank and also from the ATM if you “accept conversion” offered by that ATM. So hit “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” when the ATM offers you that option, and you will have no extra fees, from the ATM’s side.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe accepted?
Absolutely yes! You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Indonesia
Bitcoin ATMs: Yes, there are a few Bitcoin ATMs in Indonesia.
Foreign banks’s presence in Indonesia
Bank of America: Not present
Citbank: Yes, there are many Citibank ATMs in Indonesia.
Barclays: None.
HSBC: Yes, there are many HSBC ATMs in Indonesia.
Standard Chartered: Yes, there are some.
