Government sells foreign currency to small and medium enterprises in Villa Clara: 39 companies have already purchased dollars

A total of 39 small and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes) in Villa Clara have accessed foreign currency purchases through the Credit and Commerce Bank (Bandec) so far, as part of the transformations implemented in the currency exchange market in Cuba.

The official broadcaster CMHW "La Reina del Centro", reported that since January, non-state economic actors can submit requests to purchase foreign currency through the digital platforms enabled by Bandec.

Lisbet Torres Martínez, director of branch 4351 in Santa Clara, explained that before carrying out each transaction, the bank conducts identity verifications of the customer and the involved accounts, in accordance with the control and traceability requirements established in the current regulations.

The operations are part of the new design of the currency market approved by the Central Bank of Cuba and are conducted under the conditions set forth in Resolution 128 of 2025 by the organization.

According to the established procedure, the currency sales occur every 30 days, and the maximum amount that each economic actor can acquire is calculated based on 50% of the average income in their tax account over the past three months, divided by the current exchange rate in Segment III.

All operations are conducted through banking channels, so Cuban pesos are paid from the mipyme's tax account, and the acquired foreign currency is credited directly to its account in foreign currency.

Applications can be processed through the Kiosco de Bandec digital platform or via the online reservation portal provided by the banking entity.

In January, the Metropolitan Bank of Cuba announced the activation of banking channels for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (Mipymes), non-agricultural cooperatives, and other non-state economic actors to request the purchase of foreign currency, in accordance with resolutions 127 and 128 of 2025 from the Central Bank of Cuba (BCC).

The measure, presented by the official press as part of the "implementation of currency market transformations," formally expands access to foreign currency within the private sector.

However, it operates under a scheme that is entirely controlled by the State, which retains the authority to decide who can buy foreign currency, how much, and how often.