Bank of Maldives (BML) has decided to expand its digital services starting on the first day of Ramadan. This will enable customers to access all banking services online without visiting branches.

The national bank said customers can continue to access several banking services through BML's digital channels. They are:

• Deposit and withdraw cash
• Transfer funds
• Repayments for loans, financing and credit cards
• Pay for goods and services
• Send money overseas
• Apply for Lui Loans and Financing
• Apply for new debit, credit and prepaid cards
• Manage cards, including changing PIN, freezing or blocking cards
• Pay Fitr Zakat

BML has also decided to introduce new services from March 1 to enable simple, convenient banking from anywhere. They are:

• Digital Onboarding of Personal Customers: online and instant account opening for personal customers. Existing customers can continue to apply for additional accounts online.
• Digital Onboarding of Business Customers: online and instant account opening for business customers.
• Online Loan and Financing Applications: applications can be submitted online for all loans and financing including home purchase, construction or business.
• Inward Remittance: crediting of all incoming foreign remittances up to USD 10,000 after instant verification.
• TT or Outward Remittance: instant outgoing foreign remittances up to USD 5,000 through TT or International Money Transfer service on BML Mobile Banking.
• Increased ATM limits for businesses: increase of withdrawal limit on Business Cards to MVR 200,000, eliminating the need for cheques.

BML will also deliver all cards to customers, eliminating the need to visit a branch or service centre and cards can be activated and PIN can be changed through BML Internet and Mobile Banking.

All merchant settlements for payments from BML issued cards used on the bank’s POS terminals and Payment Gateway will be credited to merchant accounts within 24 hours.

In rare instances where an ATM withdrawal or deposit fails or is not completed due to an error, the bank guarantees that it will return the funds to the customer’s account within one hour.

Businesses can easily connect with dedicated Relationship Managers for personalized banking support and customers can contact the bank at any time of the day through its Contact Centre or through its chatbot and Live Agents on the website, WhatsApp or Viber.

In an instance where a customer needs to visit a branch during Ramadan and the first 7 days of Shawwal, the branches will be open from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on all working days.

BML said services will continue to be available digitally and online during the last 10 days of Ramadan, with branches closed except for March 27 and 29.