Currency
The official currency of Indonesia is Rupiah (code IDR; symbol Rp). Notes come in denominations of 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 and 500 rupiahs. Coins are in denominations of 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 25 rupiahs (the 25 rupiah coins is very rarely seen).
US dollars are commonly accepted by businesses when paying for larger purchases.
Foreign Currency Exchange
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and money exchange offices that are widely available on Java, Bali and Lombok. Exchanging money on other islands may be difficult since banks and exchange offices are sparse there. Most major currencies can be exchanged in tourist areas, but elsewhere the US dollar can be the only available option to exchange. Some exchange offices attract customers with advertised rates that are much better than at banks, but travelers should be very careful when finalizing the transaction so they don't get ripped off paying extra 'fees'; always count the money you're receiving before handing out your cash.
Note that old US dollar notes may not be accepted or accepted at a lower exchange rate; try to take only notes issued after 2001. Also, any notes in bad condition (torn, stained, marked, wrinkled) may not be accepted.
ATMs
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are common in all major Indonesian cities and tourist destinations. Most of them work on Cirrus or Plus networks and accept international credit and debit cards. Travelers should be aware that most ATMs have daily withdrawal limits that (depending on the machine) can be as low as 500,000 rupiahs.
Credit Cards
Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted by merchants in Jakarta and in tourist areas. American Express cards are far less commonly accepted. Some smaller businesses have a surcharge of 2-5% for payments made by credit card. Credit cards can also be used at banks in main cities to get a cash advance. Tourists traveling to remote areas should not rely on their credit cards.
Traveler's Checks
Traveler's checks are generally not acceptable by merchants, but they can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices and some larger hotels. American Express checks in US dollars are the preferred traveler's checks.
Banking Hours
Banks are typically open from 8:00am to 2:00pm, Monday to Thursday and 8:00am to 12:00pm on Fridays. Some banks are also open on Saturday mornings.
