Quick answer: A money exchange company in Saudi Arabia needs a multi-currency total value counter with counterfeit detection, a reject pocket so counting never stops on a foreign or suspect note, and serial number reading for its records. SAMA’s operating guide for money exchange centres expects every centre to use counting and sorting machines that can detect counterfeit currency. For a single counter, choose the Kisan K2 (12 currencies, 2 pockets, serial numbers) or Kisan Newton-A (up to 20 currencies). For the back office, choose the Fin-7900 or Kisan Newton 3F. For head office and cash centres, choose the K3-A, K5-A or K6.
Finloyd has supplied money counting machines and fake money detectors to banks and exchange houses in Saudi Arabia since 2008, with sales, installation and service in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. This guide is written for exchange-company owners, branch managers and compliance teams.
What does SAMA expect from an exchange centre’s cash equipment?
Money changing in Saudi Arabia is licensed and supervised by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) under the Rules Regulating Money Changing Business. Three parts of SAMA’s rulebook bear directly on counting equipment:
- Premises: SAMA’s minimum requirements for money exchange premises include modern cash counting and sorting machines that can detect counterfeit currency.
- Counterfeit handling: the security systems and anti-counterfeiting section of SAMA’s operating guide asks centres to equip work areas for counting, sorting and counterfeit detection, train cash staff to spot fakes, and report counterfeits promptly to the security authorities and SAMA.
- Records: the Rules require money changers to record every transaction in their system and keep a record of all transactions as SAMA instructs.
In practice, that makes three machine features non-negotiable for an exchange house: layered counterfeit detection, multi-currency recognition and data you can keep (counts, breakdowns and ideally serial numbers). This summary is for orientation; always confirm current requirements with SAMA or your compliance adviser.
Why an exchange counter is harder on a machine than a shop till
- Many currencies, both directions. You buy and sell USD, EUR, GBP and Gulf currencies all day, not just riyals.
- Foreign notes are where fakes hide. Staff see riyals daily but may handle a given foreign design rarely.
- Worn and mixed-series notes. Travellers bring old, folded and older-series notes that a basic counter rejects or misreads.
- Every transaction is documented. A count with no record does not help when a customer disputes an amount or a counterfeit surfaces later.
Which machine goes where in an exchange branch?
| Workstation | What it does | What the machine needs | Finloyd models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front counter (buy/sell) | Verifies and totals each customer’s cash in seconds | Multi-currency value count, reject pocket, compact | Kisan K2, Kisan Newton-A |
| Back office / end of day | Reconciles all counters, prepares the vault and deposit | 500+ note hopper, serial numbers, PC or network link | Fin-7900, Kisan Newton 3F |
| Bank deposits and ATM-grade cash | Separates fit from unfit notes before deposit | Fitness sorting, face and orientation | Newton 3F, K3-A |
| Head office / cash centre | Processes cash from many branches, CIT handovers | Multi-pocket sorting, up to 48 currencies, banding | K5-A, K6 |
| Coins | Counts riyal and halala coins | Rejects foreign and fake coins | Fin-CC93 |
The 6 features that matter most for exchange companies
- The right currencies, not the biggest number. List the currencies you actually trade, then check each one is configured. K2 handles 12 (SAR, USD, EUR, GBP, AED, KWD, BHD, QAR, EGP, OMR and more), Newton-A up to 20, Newton 3F up to 45, K3-A and K5-A up to 48.
- A reject pocket. On a single-pocket machine every foreign, torn or suspect note stops the count. Newton-A, K2 and Newton 3F send them to a separate pocket and keep going, which matters most at a queue.
- Layered counterfeit detection. Look for a CIS image sensor plus UV, magnetic (MG) and infrared (IR). Ultrasonic (US) adds tape and double-note detection on Fin-7900, K2, Newton 3F, K3-A, K5-A and K6.
- Serial number reading. Fin-7900, K2, Newton 3F, K3-A, K5-A and K6 record every serial number, so a counterfeit found later can be traced to the transaction and teller that received it.
- Reports and connectivity. Printer, PC and LAN ports let you attach counts to your transaction records. Fin-7900 and K5-A also support the KBMS network solution for central reporting across branches.
- Local firmware updates and service. New notes and new counterfeit methods appear every year. Ask who updates the machine in Saudi Arabia, and how fast a technician reaches your branch.
Recommended setups by branch size
| Exchange company profile | Front counter | Back office | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-counter kiosk (mall, airport, border) | Kisan K2 | Same K2 | 12 currencies, reject pocket and serial numbers in one compact machine |
| Branch with 2 to 5 counters | K2 or Newton-A at each counter | Fin-7900 or Newton 3F | Fast counters up front, records and reconciliation at the back |
| Hajj and Umrah season branch | Newton-A (up to 20 currencies) | Newton 3F (up to 45) | Wide currency mix from pilgrims of many nationalities |
| Head office or cash centre | Not applicable | K3-A or K5-A, plus K6 for strapping | Multi-pocket sorting by currency, denomination and fitness at volume |
Riyal-only float bundles that arrive already sorted can still go through a low-cost sheet counter such as the Fin-3100, but it cannot count foreign currency or mixed denominations.
When the machine flags a counterfeit: a simple procedure
- Do not return the note to the customer or put it back into the count.
- Record the transaction, the customer’s ID details and, where available, the serial number the machine captured.
- Check the note manually with a fake note detector under UV and magnification.
- Report it promptly to the security authorities and notify SAMA, following your internal procedure and SAMA’s instructions.
Not every rejected note is fake. Worn, taped or older-series notes are rejected too; see why money counting machines reject notes.
The complete exchange counter kit
- Money counter: Kisan K2 or Newton-A at the counter, Fin-7900 or Newton 3F at the back.
- Rate display: an LED exchange rate board to show rates clearly, as SAMA requires.
- ID capture: a passport and ID scanner such as the HID ATOM or OCR640 to speed up customer due diligence.
- Single-note checks: a fake note detector for high-value notes.
- Overnight cash: an EN 1143-1 burglary-resistant safe or a vault room.
- Camera coverage: CCTV over every counting desk.
Pre-purchase checklist for exchange companies
- Which currencies do we buy and sell weekly, and is each one configured?
- Does the counter have a reject pocket?
- Does it detect with CIS, UV, MG and IR, and ideally US?
- Does it read and store serial numbers?
- Can we print or export counts to our transaction system?
- Is it configured for all current Saudi notes, including the 200-riyal and polymer 5-riyal notes?
- Who updates the firmware and services it locally, and what warranty applies?
Frequently asked questions
Do exchange companies in Saudi Arabia need a counterfeit-detecting money counter?
Yes. SAMA’s requirements for money exchange centres include modern counting and sorting machines capable of detecting counterfeit currency, along with staff training and prompt reporting of counterfeits.
What is the best money counting machine for an exchange company?
For a single counter, the Kisan K2 (12 currencies, reject pocket, serial numbers) or Kisan Newton-A (up to 20 currencies). For back-office reconciliation, the Fin-7900 or Kisan Newton 3F. For head office volumes, the K3-A, K5-A or K6.
How many currencies should an exchange-house money counter support?
At least every currency you trade weekly. Most Saudi exchange houses need SAR, USD, EUR, GBP and Gulf currencies; Newton-A covers up to 20 and Newton 3F up to 45 for wider mixes such as Hajj and Umrah traffic.
Why does an exchange counter need a reject pocket?
Foreign, worn and suspect notes are common at an exchange. A reject pocket sends them aside without stopping the count, so the queue keeps moving.
Why is serial number reading important for money changers?
It records every note’s serial number, so a counterfeit discovered later can be traced to the transaction and teller, which supports SAMA’s record-keeping expectations.
Can a money counting machine catch every fake note?
No machine can guarantee that. Layered detection with CIS, UV, MG, IR and ultrasonic sensors reduces risk; suspect notes should still be checked manually and reported.
Where can exchange companies buy and service money counters in Saudi Arabia?
Finloyd supplies, installs and services money counting machines for exchange houses from its branches in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, and has done since 2008.
Get the right setup for your exchange branches
Tell us how many counters you run, which currencies you trade and your daily volume. A Finloyd cash-handling specialist will recommend the right mix of machines and send a free quote.
- Jeddah: +966 50 844 0075 / +966 12 652 1564
- Riyadh: +966 50 003 2928 / +966 11 472 3521
- Al Khobar: +966 55 721 2191 / +966 13 804 0030
Still comparing machine types? Start with our money counting machine buying guide or see the best money counting machines in Saudi Arabia 2026.
