The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) has granted pre-operational approvals to two entities to establish new Tier 1 banks in the Maldives, subject to completing the authority’s pre-operational requirements. Maldives Finance and Leasing Company Pvt Ltd received approval to transition into a Tier 1 bank under the proposed name Maldives Finance and Leasing Bank, while BIC Bank Maldives Private Limited received approval to establish a Tier 1 bank under the proposed name BIC Bank Maldives. The approvals confirm the MMA’s decision to authorize both as licensed banks once the pre-operational conditions set by the authority have been met.