BI Opens Money Exchange Service Ahead of Christmas at Cathedral
- VIVA/M Ali Wafa
Jakarta, VIVA – Bank Indonesia (BI) provided a money exchange service through a mobile cash unit at the Jakarta Cathedral area. This initiative aimed to meet the public's demand for new banknotes ahead of the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year celebrations.
Faris Budiawan, Director of BI's Currency Management Department, stated that the service is part of a program titled “Semarak Rupiah di Hari Natal Penuh Damai (Serunai) 2024”. Similar activities were conducted simultaneously across Indonesia on December 15, 2024.
“We're organizing this service nationwide because we understand that the demand for cash typically increases before Christmas and New Year,” Budiawan said on Sunday (Dec 15).
Masjid Istiqlal dan Gereja Katedral di Jakarta Pusat.
- Istimewa
According to Budiawan, cash demand for the 2024 Christmas and New Year period is projected to reach IDR 133.7 trillion, a 2.5 percent increase from the previous year’s realization of IDR 130.4 trillion.
“This figure indicates heightened economic activity among the public,” he remarked.
The Chief Pastor of Jakarta Cathedral, Father Hani Rudi Hartoko, welcomed BI's initiative said that this is the first time such a service has been held at the Cathedral, and congregation members showed high enthusiasm.
“During Christmas, people usually give gifts as tokens of appreciation, and new banknotes make the recipients even happier,” Father Hani explained.
He added that some members might already be preparing to exchange money for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations.
The money exchange service at the Cathedral was available for one day only, limited to 250 participants. Each person could exchange up to IDR 4 million. Denominations available included IDR 5,000, IDR 10,000, IDR 20,000, IDR 50,000, and IDR 100,000.
In addition to the Cathedral, BI’s mobile cash unit also operated at GPIB Bukit Moria in Tebet, South Jakarta, on the same day. The service was open to the general public while supplies lasted.
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