The Maldives Ministry of Finance highlighted the opening of a Maldives Islamic Bank ATM in Baa Kendhoo as an expansion of basic financial services to remote islands. Residents can now make cash deposits and withdrawals without traveling to another island, addressing access constraints in a community more than 130 kilometers from Malé. Speaking at the inauguration, Finance Minister Hassan Zareer linked the facility to the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2026-2030, which prioritizes Sharia-compliant finance, wider access to financing, digital services, sustainability, customer protection and financial literacy. Research underpinning the strategy found that 14% of women and 5% of men remain outside the formal banking system, while only 38% of senior citizens use internet banking.

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