President of the Central Bank: "There is more money in Cuba than ever before."

The government is struggling to solve the issue of ATMs; the situation for withdrawing cash from banks and ATMs is critical. People's opinions are questioning the need for such high levels of banking if it is difficult to withdraw money.

Juana Lilia Delgado Portal © Captura de video de YouTube de PresidenciaCuba
Juana Lilia Delgado PortalPhoto © Screenshot from YouTube video by PresidenciaCuba

The President Minister of the Central Bank of Cuba (BCC) stated that there is more money in the country than ever before, although it does not reach the majority of the population.

Juana Lilia Delgado Portal appeared this Thursday on the YouTube channel hosted by Miguel Díaz-Canel, where they addressed the financial crisis that they themselves have created and that the people are suffering from.

It's not that there is no money in the economy, there is more money than ever, but the flow of that money has been reversed. There is more money leaving the banking system than returning; this alters the entire cash flow cycle and then it becomes difficult to meet the demands for cash," he admitted.

Another characteristic is that the cash that leaves the banking system is concentrated in few hands, and that is one of the reasons why we say that action must be taken for that cash to return to the banking system through the appropriate channels," he added.

Access to cash in Cuba is a serious problem. It is an odyssey for people to collect their salaries and pensions, having to face long lines at banks or ATMs due to the limited availability of cash.

However, Diaz-Canel continues to insist on his failed banking process, despite the consequences it has brought and people's discontent.

The government has not yet resolved the issue of ATMs; the situation for obtaining cash in banks and ATMs is very critical. "It's a struggle, what's the point of all this banking if it's a problem to withdraw money?" were some of the opinions of the population that the leader read, aware of the difficulties that Cubans face in their daily activities.

In Havana, a group of affected individuals reported that they had been waiting for three days to access a working ATM.

"There is no money, the ATMs are broken, when they put money, they put very little," expressed an elderly man to the DW Español channel.

The shortage of cash is so severe that in some provinces drastic measures are being implemented.

In Sancti Spiritus, the Credit and Commerce Bank (BANDEC) decided not to replenish the ATMs at its main branch.

According to the Escambray newspaper, citizens in need of cash are required to wait in long lines to be assisted by the teller service inside the branch itself and can withdraw up to 5,000 pesos.

In April, the Central Bank instructed users that, due to the recurrent shortage of money in ATMs, they should go to the bodegas or other commercial establishments of the Ministry of Internal Trade (MINCIN) to withdraw cash from their bank accounts through the "Extra Cash" service.

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