Opening a bank account in Indonesia can feel confusing at first because you often hear conflicting information. Many people will tell you that you need a KITAS, a sponsor, or long term residency. The truth is simple. You do not need a KITAS to open a bank account in Indonesia. Tourists on a Visa on Arrival, the D1 digital nomad visa, social visas, and regular short stay visas can all open local accounts. The only requirement is that you meet the bank’s minimum deposit and basic documentation rules.
For anyone spending more than a few weeks in Bali, opening a local bank account is one of the most useful things you can do. Life in Indonesia is very bank transfer driven, and many everyday transactions are easier when you have an Indonesian account. Whether you need to pay rent, shop online, use QRIS, or transfer money to friends, having a local account will make your daily routine far smoother.
What Are The Major Banks in Indonesia
Indonesia has many banks, but a few stand out because they offer better apps, wider branch networks, and more consistent service.
Bank Central Asia
Bank Central Asia is one of the most popular banks among locals and foreigners. It offers an excellent mobile app, very reliable QRIS payments, and a large network of ATMs all across the country. Some branches are strict about non resident accounts, while others are more flexible, so your experience may differ.
Mandiri and BNI
These two are large government owned banks. They have solid online banking platforms and are trusted throughout Indonesia. They tend to be slightly more conservative with documentation, but many foreigners still open accounts here without any issues.
CIMB Niaga
CIMB Niaga is seen as friendly for international customers. The digital experience is clean and the requirements for foreigners are usually straightforward.
OCBC Indonesia
This is the most foreigner friendly bank in Bali. OCBC is known for clear requirements for tourists and non resident customers. Many branches in Bali routinely open accounts for visitors on short stay visas. The staff speak very good English. OCBC is a Singaporean bank with a banking license in Indonesia and is very popular with foreigners.
OCBC is where I ended up opening my bank account with.
Why It Is Useful to Have a Bank Account in Indonesia
Daily life in Bali becomes much more convenient once you have a local bank account. Even though Bali is modern and full of international visitors, the country still relies heavily on bank transfers and QR payments.
Paying Rent and Villa Deposits
Many landlords prefer or require payment through local transfer. International transfers take time, include fees, and sometimes result in a lower received amount. A local transfer avoids all of these issues.
Without a local bank account, Wise is the de facto method of sending money to Indonesian banks but I find that having a local bank just makes things slightly easier.
Paying Merchants That Do Not Accept Credit Cards
Small cafes, local restaurants, barbers, spas, and many home service providers prefer QRIS. QRIS works only through Indonesian banks and e wallets. Once you have an Indonesian account, you can pay everyone instantly.
While most places in Bali accept credit cards, it’s those handful of places that do not that will cause me headaches.
Shopping on Shopee and Tokopedia
If you stay longer in Bali, you will need these two platforms. A large number of items are only available online and the prices are often better. The most reliable way to pay is through an Indonesian bank account.
While you can use Lazada with a foreign credit card, Shopee only allows local bank accounts and cards. I find that while Lazada has most of the things I need, Shopee has considerably more goods on offer. Also, many local Balinese vendors advertise on Shopee which allows you to have same day delivery.
Avoiding Foreign Card Fees
If you come from a country with weak credit cards that charge youFX fees, they can add up quickly in Indonesia. Credit card fees, ATM fees, and exchange rate losses can become significant. A local bank account eliminates these routine costs.
Withdrawing large amounts of cash
If you need to withdraw large sums of cash, an Indonesian bank account is essential. My bank account in the US allows me to withdraw the equivalent of $3,000 USD a day. While this is enough for almost any occasion in today’s digital and contactless world, it is not nearly enough if you want to do business in Indonesia.
If you’re looking to buy land or certain businesses, cash is sometimes preferred. I’ve never been in this position before but I know others who have bought land in Indonesia and paid the landowner in cash. It is almost impossible to withdraw enough cash from a foreign bank account. Even if you could withdraw tens of hundreds of millions of Rupiah, you would quickly hit a road block given the maximum withdrawal limit of Bali ATMs is 3m.
The bank is the perfect way to withdraw larges sums of cash. Since the maximum bill in Indonesia is 100k, I’ve seen the banks produce bags of cash to people.
The Advantage of Multi Currency Accounts
One of the best features available in Indonesia is the ability to open multi currency accounts. These accounts allow you to hold several currencies such as USD, SGD, EUR, AUD, and GBP inside your Indonesian banking profile.
The benefit is straightforward. You can keep your foreign income in its original currency and convert it into Indonesian Rupiah only when the exchange rate is attractive. This is especially useful for digital nomads and remote workers. It also prevents large amounts of Rupiah from sitting in your account unnecessarily.
Using multi currency with OCBC
As I bank with OCBC, I can say for certain that the FX rate exchanges are very good. They do not take commissions and the FX fees are very close to spot (~0.1% spread). In addition, I can wire transfer USD from my US bank account and it will arrive in my OCBC USD wallet for a fee of $5 on any transfer amount. This was absolutely crucial when purchasing a villa in Bali.
A multi currency account also integrates directly with local payments. Once you convert part of your balance to Indonesian Rupiah, you can pay rent, shop online, and use QRIS instantly.
Do You Need a KITAS to Open a Bank Account
You do not need a KITAS. This is one of the most common misunderstandings among newcomers.
You can open a bank account if you have any of the following.
- Visa on Arrival
- Digital nomad visa
- Multi Entry Tourist visa
- Social visa
- D12 Pre-investment visa
Requirements differ slightly by bank, but none require residency. What matters most is meeting the minimum deposit and presenting the correct documents.
Sometimes, your citizenship might cause problems. I’m not sure exactly which citizenships would trigger further KYC but as a couple with German, Canadian, and American citizenships, none of these were issues or required further review.
While KITAS might have been a requirement in the past, it is no longer a requirement in Bali until further notice. I was on a D1 multi entry tourist visa when I opened my bank account in Indonesia.
Minimum Deposit Requirements
The real requirement foreigners must be aware of is the minimum deposit. Banks apply stricter balances for non resident customers compared to local residents.
OCBC is the most transparent. The requirement is an initial deposit of fifty million Rupiah, and you must keep twenty five million Rupiah in the account for the first three months. After that period, only the standard minimum balance is required.
This requirement might change at any given point but when I opened my account in 2025, these were the required amounts.
Other banks vary.
• Bank Central Asia often opens accounts for ten to twenty million Rupiah depending on the branch
• Mandiri and BNI tend to request ten to twenty million Rupiah for non resident accounts
• CIMB Niaga is usually within a similar range
These numbers do change, but the pattern is consistent. Foreign customers need to deposit more than locals when opening an account.
Documents You Need To Open An Indonesian Bank Account
The documents are straightforward.
• Passport with at least six months validity
• Valid Indonesian visa
• Indonesian phone number
• Local address such as your hotel, rented villa, or guesthouse
A local phone number is required because all banking activity uses verification through mobile codes. Make sure you have a proper mobile plan with someone like Telkomsel to receive your 2-Factor requests.
The address does not need to be permanent. Most banks accept the place where you are staying.
You do not need an Indonesian tax number for a simple savings account. You do not need a sponsor letter, and you do not need a local reference.
The Step by Step Process to Open an Account
The process is simple once you choose a bank and branch. As my experience is solely with opening an account with OCBC, this is my first hand experience.
Step One: Prepare Your Documents
Make sure you have your passport, visa page, Indonesian phone number, and an address. Bring enough money for the initial deposit. Some banks prefer cash at the time of opening. As I opened with OCBC, they allowed me to transfer the amount within a specified time frame.
Step Two: Visit a Branch
I made an appointment with a banker before account opening. I received his contact from a friend (everything is done through word of Mouth in Bali and I love it), WhatsApp’d him, and made an appointment. Before arriving, I already decided on which account to open and this meeting was just to take care of all the official paperwork.
The staff will review your passport, take copies, enter your information, and ask you to fill out standard forms. Most branches with experience serving foreigners complete this step in under half an hour.
Step Three: Make Your Initial Deposit
Some banks will let you deposit through transfer, while others prefer cash. OCBC usually accepts cash directly during account opening. As I didn’t want to take out so much cash, I transferred the money once my account was open.
Step Four: Receive Your Debit Card and Activate Mobile Banking
Your card is issued immediately. The officer will help you activate the mobile app. Once activated, you can set up the App and use things like QRIS right away.
That’s it, your bank account is ready to go and you can enjoy the fruits of your labor!
One of my favorite parts of banking with OCBC is my direct access to the banker who opened my account. I often times will WhatsApp him if I have issues or questions around specific topics. He is an all-star that promptly returns my WhatsApp texts. Even with such a small amount of money in the bank account, I feel like I have private client privileges!
Common Issues and How to Avoid Them
Foreigners often run into the same challenges, but these are easy to avoid once you know them.
• Some bank officers insist on KITAS out of habit. If this happens, visit another branch. Policies vary by branch, not by bank.
• Arriving without an Indonesian phone number will stop the entire process. Buy a SIM card first.
• Not bringing enough cash for the initial deposit can delay the process.
• Expecting a credit card is unrealistic. Indonesian banks rarely give credit cards to non residents.
These are normal occurrences and not signs that you cannot open an account. Simply adjust and try a different branch if needed.
How Long It Takes
Most account openings take between thirty minutes and two hours. OCBC branches in Bali are usually the fastest. Bank Central Asia and Mandiri may take slightly longer because of longer lines or additional verification steps. You will always receive your card on the same visit.
Final Thoughts
Opening a bank account as a foreigner in Bali is much easier than most people expect. The key is to choose the right branch, bring the required documents, and prepare the initial deposit. You do not need residency and you do not need complicated paperwork. Once your account is active, life in Indonesia becomes significantly easier.
Local transfers, online shopping, QRIS payments, rent, utilities, and everyday spending all become smooth and inexpensive. With access to multi currency accounts, you also keep control over your exchange rates and manage your funds with more flexibility.
I found the entire process of opening a bank account in Indonesia to be quite pleasant. My banker at OCBC was very nice, knowledgeable, and efficient. Opening a bank account in Indonesia was the final piece in our “settling into” Bali life. It felt more real and it felt like we were finally party of the system.
