Cuba faces cash shortages that limit electronic payments

The Banco de Crédito y Comercio (Bandec) offers two banking documents – a Certificado de Cuenta and an Estado de Cuenta – to prove personal or corporate solvency for embassy procedures. These documents detail account holder information, balances and transaction history, and can be requested in person or sent electronically through Transfermóvil and the Bandec kiosk.

A separate report highlights that many Cubans struggle to obtain cash, forcing them to rely on physical money for everyday purchases. Businesses in Havana’s Alamar district repeatedly reject electronic transfers, citing reasons such as “full” cards, transaction limits, and limited operating hours. Frequent power outages and network issues further disrupt digital payment platforms like Transfermóvil and EnZona, leaving workers and pensioners with funds in bank accounts that cannot be spent.

The combined situation underscores a gap between the country’s push for bancarization and the reality of cash‑dependent commerce, affecting thousands of consumers and small enterprises across Cuba.