Bank of Maldives (BML) has stated that claims circulating on social media alleging that a 30 per cent fee is being charged on card transactions contrary to its official policy are false and without any basis.

The Bank’s spokesperson, Mohamed Saeed, said that as previously announced, starting from 1 July 2025, an additional fees of up to 30 per cent are charged on transactions made using Maldivian rufiyaa debit cards on selected e-commerce platforms, including Temu, Shein, Alibaba, AliExpress, Lazada and eBay.

He clarified that claims suggesting such fees have been secretly introduced for a wider range of merchants, including those in the health, education and travel sectors, are untrue.

Referring to the Bank’s Schedule of Charges, Saeed explained that a fee of up to 30 per cent may apply when debit cards linked to Maldivian rufiyaa accounts are used for cross-border transactions. He noted that such cross-border charges are a standard practice implemented by banks globally.

He further emphasised that this is not a newly introduced measure targeting specific merchants or customers, nor is it a policy designed to impose higher rates on selected transactions.

The Bank also stated that the spread of false information could undermine public confidence and negatively impact economic stability and financial security.

Customers have been urged to disregard unverified claims and rely only on official communications issued by the Bank of Maldives.