BML USD Booking Portal brings an end to practice of queueing

Long queues outside banks and the multiple other inconveniences faced by Maldivians travelling out of the country who wish to purchase US Dollars led to Maldives Monetary

Authority (MMA) taking over the service temporarily, announcing that the service will be facilitated from Velana International Airport through Bank of Maldives starting 2017.

The national bank, Bank of Maldives (BML) has optimized the use of technology to bring an end to the biggest inconvenience faced by customers who wish to purchase USD – the practice of having to wait in queues.

Purchase of USD for tickets made convenient

Previously, customers who wished to purchase USD needed to spend a lot of time and go to a specific place during a specific time.

The service was previously available to travelers directly from the banks during its working hours, and unavailable during off-working hours, weekends, or holidays.

BML has now launched its USD Booking Portal, which provides the service online anytime and anywhere.

Visit the BML website and select the “USD Booking” option on the right-hand corner of the webpage – this leads to the BML USD Booking Portal.

The first page contains information regarding the service and its terms and conditions. Read it and proceed to filling out the information required by the bank so you can book the USD.

Once you click proceed, you will be asked to enter your mobile phone number to which the bank will send a one-time password.

Enter the password and specify the number of passengers for whom the USD will be booked for. Each customer can book USD for up to five travelers at the rate of USD 500 per traveler.

Next, you will be required to enter flight details including the flight number and date and time of departure, followed by personal details such as your name and passport number, and the amount of USD you wish to purchase.

Once all the information required has been successfully submitted, it will open the gateway to online payment for USD.

Follow the instructions and make the payment, and the USD booking is confirmed.

Customers also have the option of making the payment and booking USD from BML branches.

The only step left is to retrieve the USD booked from Velana International Airport on the day of departure.

USD available from departure terminal

Book USD queue-free through the BML USD Booking Portal and simply collect the money from the departure terminal of Velana International Airport by showing your passport and boarding pass to the BML counters established in front of Gate 4.

BML officials at the counters will verify the information and immediately release the money.

The money needs to be booked between eight to 120 hours (5 days) to the time of departure.

The payments can only be made through the BML debit card and no changes can be made once the booking has been confirmed.

Bookings will be cancelled 72 hours after the time of flight departure and refunded within seven days if a customer fails to collect the money.

The system is expected to combat unscrupulous use of the service and black market sale of dollars and ensure the USD sold goes straight to the hands of only Maldivians who travel out of the country.