Bank of Maldives (BML) has denied claims circulating on social media that international e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and AliExpress have been blocked for card transactions.

In a statement, BML said reports suggesting that transactions on the two platforms were restricted are false. The bank clarified that some transactions failed because customers attempted to spend beyond the foreign transaction limits set on their cards, and not because the platforms had been blocked.

To address the claims, BML released data showing continued use of Amazon and AliExpress by Maldivian cardholders. From 1 January to 21 February 2026, a total of 58,000 transactions were recorded on the two platforms, with total spending amounting to USD 2.33 million.

The bank said the use of debit and credit cards, including for business-related purchases, continues to rise. BML advised customers who are purchasing goods for commercial purposes to use the bank’s business banking solutions, which are designed to support higher transaction volumes and provide documentation required for imports.

BML statistics show foreign card transactions have increased steadily in recent years. Transactions conducted abroad through BML cards totalled USD 311 million in 2023, USD 389 million in 2024, and USD 524 million in 2025. As of January 2026, foreign card transactions stood at USD 59 million.

According to BML, around 66 per cent of foreign card transactions are carried out on e-commerce platforms. The bank said sufficient foreign currency is allocated for travel-related expenses such as airline tickets, hotels and medical costs. However, transactions may fail when personal cards are used for large-scale purchases that exceed assigned limits.

BML said international transaction limits on credit cards were increased with effect from 1 February 2026. The bank also offers a foreign transaction limit of up to USD 3,000 per month on debit cards for medical and transportation purposes, while the standard monthly foreign transaction limit for transaction on POS machines on debit cards remains USD 1,000.