An operation to monitor economic actors, which began on August 10 in Sancti Spíritus, resulted in more than 6.3 million pesos returning to the province's banking system, according to authorities.
The intervention involved municipal and provincial inspectors, the National Office of Tax Administration, the Communist Party, the Prosecutor's Office, the Comptroller's Office, and the banking system, in an effort aimed at increasing cash deposits and electronic payments among small and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes) and self-employed workers, reported this Saturday the station Radio Sancti Spíritus.
José Couso Villarreal, head of the Business Banking Department of the provincial direction of Banco Popular de Ahorro, reported that 29 small and medium-sized enterprises that previously did not make deposits have started doing so, with an increase of just over three million pesos, equivalent to a growth of 63%.
"We have increased it by a percentage of growth, but we still believe it can be much greater, meaning there are more potentials," acknowledged the official.
Among self-employed workers, 220 new contributors began to make systematic deposits, resulting in an increase of another 3,272,500 pesos and a growth of 122%.
However, Couso admitted that this result "is still far from the potential we have."
Online payments also increased by 47%, with a rise of 6,650,000 pesos. The official highlighted that this method is the most requested by the population, particularly due to the difficulties in obtaining cash from banking institutions.
Couso justified the pressure on private economic actors by pointing out that the deposited money allows the banking system to have resources available to pay pensions and salaries to workers in various entities.
"It is essential that the money returns to the bank in order to meet all these needs," he stated.
A previous audit in the central province resulted in over 200 fines and the closure of at least five establishments for price violations and non-compliance with payment gateways.
The background situation is critical. In May, a survey revealed that less than 10% of private businesses in the province regularly accepted transfers, and some charged surcharges of up to 40% when a customer chose to pay using that method.
Nationwide, less than four percent of transactions are digital, even though the Central Bank mandated mandatory banking in August 2023 through Resolution 111/2023.
In light of the notable failure of this measure, the National Assembly approved Agreement X-171 in July, which mandates the government and the Central Bank to adopt new corrective measures and submit a report to the Council of State, with a results evaluation scheduled for the upcoming December.
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