Three years after imposing mandatory electronic payments, businesses in Sancti Spíritus are charging surcharges of up to 40% or rejecting transfers, in a scenario that highlights the failure of forced banking.
The official newspaper Escambray described the situation in a report published this Friday, marking the third anniversary of the enforcement of Resolution 111/2023 by the Central Bank of Cuba, which established the mandatory use of electronic payments for economic actors in the country.
The work titled "Transfers: The Seven-Headed Hydra (Part II)" describes establishments that do not accept transfers, others that only partially accept them, and businesses that impose surcharges of over 40%.
In the comments on the article, a reader identified as "Lia" reported that a small business located on Colón street, across from Cupet, charges "up to 50% more" when customers pay electronically and questioned the absence of inspectors.
Banking statistics from Sancti Spíritus also indicate a decline in the use of these mechanisms. Maité Hernández Gómez, head of the Electronic Banking department of the Popular Savings Bank (BPA) in the province, reported that during the first quarter of 2026, more than 1,600,000 electronic transactions were carried out, although this figure decreased compared to the same period in the previous year.
The head of the Electronic Banking Department at the Bank of Credit and Commerce, Arelis Alfonso Valero, reported more than 2,555,000 transactions amounting to over 8,592,000 pesos during the first months of 2026, also showing a decrease compared to the previous year.
The lack of deposits in the tax accounts of private businesses exacerbates the cash shortage. Fidel Fernando Betancourt, director of branch 5241 of Bandec, explained that out of the 32 small and medium enterprises (mipymes) served, 24 had not made any deposits during the first four months of the year. Among the 2,792 self-employed workers, only 338 had done so.
"Thus, cash does not flow in, and the Bank cannot meet the demands of the population," summarized the official.
The situation is no different at BPA. José Couso Villarreal, an executive in Personal Banking, indicated that out of more than 15,000 self-employed workers with active tax accounts, nearly 6,000 remain inactive, with no deposits or transactions.
The official attributed the hoarding of cash to "tax evasion and the purchase of dollars in the illegal market."
However, the report itself reveals another central element of the problem. Private businesses need cash because their wholesale suppliers require payment in that manner to replenish their stock.
The contradiction strikes directly at the purpose of banking. A survey by Radio Sancti Spíritus published in May revealed that less than 10% of private businesses in the province regularly accept transfers.
Those who need to convert digital balances into cash turn to the informal market, where intermediaries charge a commission of between 30% and 45%.
Three years after the regulation came into effect, authorities have responded to noncompliance with increased pressure on businesses. So far in 2026, Sancti Spíritus has imposed more than 80 fines for violations related to online payments, the outlet reported.
The crackdown extends to other provinces. Five businesses in Bayamo were closed this week for not accepting payments via transfer.
Authorities in Guantánamo warned this Friday that "there is no middle ground" for establishments that fail to comply with the obligation.
The national balance is even more unfavorable for a policy presented as a way to modernize transactions. According to data from the official press itself, only 3.77% of transactions conducted in Cuba are digital, despite the authorities imposing more than 15,240 fines and shutting down 269 establishments across the country.
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