Cards in Indonesian rupiah (IDR): issuance, terms, and usage features
According to data for the third quarter of 2025, bank cards are the most popular payment method in Indonesian cities, surpassing the QRIS* system and cash.
* QRIS — Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard, a unified national QR payment standard (a fast scannable code) in Indonesia. It was introduced by Bank Indonesia to ensure that QR-code payments across different banks and payment services operate under a single standard.
According to the Indonesian Payment Systems Association, the number of credit card users in Indonesian rupiah (IDR) alone has reached nearly 19 million.
The Indonesian rupiah (IDR) has been the official currency of Indonesia since 1946, following the country's independence from the Netherlands. The first bank cards appeared in the country in the 1980s.
As a rule, in Indonesian cities and popular tourist regions, including Bali, there are no issues with paying by bank card at many locations such as hotels, restaurants, and airports. However, in some regions, cashless payments may not be available, so it is advisable to always carry a small amount of Indonesian rupiah in cash.
Obtaining a bank card in Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
Banks issue debit and credit cards in Indonesian rupiah (IDR) based on payment systems such as Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards are also available, although they are less common in Indonesia. As of April 2026, more than 20 banks issue cards in Indonesian rupiah:
- ANZ Indonesia Bank Bukopin;
- Bank of China;
- Citibank;
- Wise;
- Bank Mandiri (the largest bank in Indonesia);
- Bank Central Asia (BCA);
- Bank CIMP Niaga;
- Maybank;
- Bank Mega;
- Bank Sinarmas;
- Bank Danamon;
- Bank MNC;
- Rabobank;
- Bank Permata;
- Bangka Belitung;
- Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), and others.
To obtain a card in Indonesian rupiah (IDR), a user must open a bank account with one of the banks. To open an account, Indonesian residents need only a passport. Residents with KITAS* can obtain a bank card in Indonesian rupiah upon confirming their address of stay.
* KITAS — Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas, i.e., a limited/temporary stay permit in Indonesia for foreigners. This status grants the right to legally reside in the country for a limited period, depending on the grounds and type of permit.
At some banks, such as Maybank, non-residents can open an account without a temporary stay permit by presenting a passport and additional documents, provided they have a local sponsor.
The list of additional documents may vary depending on the bank, which may require:
- Photos (as for a passport);
- A contact phone number at the place of actual residence;
- A bank reference letter issued in the home country (for non-residents);
- A letter of recommendation from an employer.
- An existing debit or credit card.
In all cases, a minimum deposit of 500,000 Indonesian rupiah (about $30 equivalent) may be required to open an account.
Residents can open an account with an Indonesian bank either at a branch or online via the app; however, the latter option is not available to non-residents without a temporary stay permit.
When opening an account and obtaining a bank card in Indonesian rupiah, it is important to review the service terms. For example, Indonesian banks charge a monthly maintenance fee of around 15,000 Indonesian rupiah (just under one US dollar).
After opening an account and receiving a bank card, users can pay for purchases, top up their account, make transfers, and perform other transactions in Indonesian rupiah, subject to the limits set by the selected bank.
Top-up and withdrawal from a card in Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
You can top up or withdraw funds from a bank card in Indonesian rupiah in several ways:
- Cash via ATMs;
- Bank transfer;
- Through third-party payment systems such as Wise, Airwallex, Stripe, and Adyen;
- Transfer by card number.
- Using exchange services;
- Via mobile payments using a QR code (a fast-scannable code) or the QRIS system.
It should be noted that fees may apply to topping up or withdrawing funds from a bank card in Indonesian rupiah, depending on the method, bank, payment system, or exchange service used.
Before performing a transaction, it is also necessary to review bank limits, which may range from 10,000 to several million Indonesian rupiah. For example, no more than 10,000,000 Indonesian rupiah can be withdrawn from ATMs.
Depositing excessively large amounts onto a card is also risky. For example, banks may freeze an account and require proof of the origin of funds if the balance exceeds 1 billion Indonesian rupiah (approximately $70,000).