The bank located at the intersection of Enramadas and Padre Pico streets, in the heart of Santiago de Cuba's historic center, was the target of vandalism this Saturday, damaging its glass door.
Journalist Yosmany Mayeta shared a video on Facebook showing a hole in the glass door and pieces scattered on the floor.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of rising frustration among the residents of Santiago, as many citizens struggle to access their salaries due to a shortage of cash in banking institutions.
Residents, especially the elderly and retirees, often spend the night in front of the bank to secure a spot in line, a scene that has become common in the province, Mayeta reported.
"And most of the time, they have to leave with the 'buquenques', which have a rate of exchange between 20 and 25%," he pointed out.
The situation worsens with the expansion of the "bankarization" pushed by the regime, which mandates the use of electronic cards for payment of products and services, the communicator emphasized.
"Private and state-owned businesses do not want to charge for the products they sell using cards and prefer cash," Mayeta added, a situation that leaves the population trapped in a cycle of difficulty in accessing money in their accounts.
The incident reinforces the public's perception that the imposed measures not only complicate their daily lives but also do not provide effective solutions to the lack of liquidity.
In July, a branch of the Banco Popular de Ahorros, located in the area known as "La Comercial" in the José Martí Urban Center of Santiago de Cuba, also woke up to broken windows due to a stoning carried out by a young man, reportedly in a medical crisis.
Journalist Yosmany Mayeta reported the incident on Facebook, stating that the man has not yet been identified, but that according to a source, he was a barber who has been involved in stone-throwing incidents on other occasions in various locations.
Mayeta shared a gallery of images showing the damage to the glass at the bank branch, as well as a chat screenshot in which someone revealed details highlighting the worsening cash crisis in Santiago de Cuba.
"People are stubborn, as the money being deposited is given by the bank workers at an 8% rate to those involved in cash trafficking," the whistleblower stated.
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