Monday 23 Feb 2026
BML Islamic introduces the country's first-ever Shari'ah Compliant Visa Credit Card. (Photo: BML)
The Bank of Maldives (BML) has denied claims circulating on social media that it has blocked international e‑commerce platforms such as Amazon and AliExpress.
Concerns were raised online in recent days after some customers said their BML cards were not being accepted on these platforms. In a statement, BML said the rumors were false and that the bank had not restricted transactions on any specific e‑commerce site.
According to the bank, card transactions typically fail when customers attempt to spend beyond the limit assigned to their card. BML said this is the main reason behind recent payment failures, not any targeted blocking of Amazon or AliExpress.
The bank also released usage statistics to demonstrate continued access. From 1 January 2025 to 21 February 2026, customers made 58,000 transactions on Amazon and AliExpress, amounting to USD 2.33 million, according to the document.
BML noted a growing trend of individuals using personal debit and credit cards to purchase goods for business purposes, often attempting transactions that exceed the income level declared for the card. The bank urged customers engaged in commercial activity to use its business‑banking solutions, which are designed to support high‑value transactions and provide the documentation required for importing goods.
The bank also highlighted the scale of overseas transactions it has facilitated over the past three years across ATMs, e‑commerce and POS terminals:
2023: USD 311 million
2024: USD 389 million
2025: USD 524 million
January 2026: USD 59 million
BML said around 66 percent of these transactions were made on e‑commerce platforms.
A bank official said customers have been provided with adequate foreign currency for airline tickets, hotel bookings, medical treatment and other travel‑related expenses. However, when large transactions are attempted using cards or accounts issued for personal use, the assigned limit may be reached, causing the transaction to fail.
BML recently increased overseas spending limits for credit cards. Since November 11, 2025, debit‑card transactions abroad have been limited to USD 3,000 per month for medical and travel expenses, while debit‑card POS transactions outside the Maldives are capped at USD 1,000 per month.
