Customers of the Bank of Maldives have faced repeated difficulties withdrawing US dollars from ATMs in Malé and Hulhumalé, with some locations reported offline for three consecutive days.
Residents and social media users described long waits and empty machines at the three dollar ATMs near Star Clouds on Majeedhee Magu as well as units in Hulhumalé. One customer wrote that the inability to access funds already held in accounts was especially frustrating given the bank’s continued expansion of services.
BML spokesperson Mohamed Saeed said he would issue a statement later when contacted, but no further response or official explanation had been provided at the time of reporting. The bank has previously cited heavy pressure on dollar liquidity and unsustainable outflows as reasons for earlier delays in telegraphic transfers and interbank dollar movements.
The latest ATM disruptions come against the backdrop of a prolonged dollar shortage that has affected card spending limits, transfer times and business payments. Last month the bank tightened several foreign-currency controls and warned that dollar support for transfers was subject to availability.
No timeline for restoration of the dollar ATMs has been announced.
