Visa and Mastercard services halted in Cuba under US sanctions

The Central Bank of Cuba announced that Visa and Mastercard will cease operating on the island starting Saturday, June 6. A foreign bank that processed the transactions ended its relationship with Fincimex, the financial arm of state‑linked conglomerate GAESA, to comply with U.S. Executive Order 14404 issued by President Donald Trump.

The suspension prevents Cuba from receiving payments for goods and services through the two major international card networks. The country will rely on cash, Cuban prepaid cards and Russian Mir and Chinese UnionPay cards. The move follows other foreign companies leaving Cuba and is expected to further strain the already weak Cuban economy and its tourism sector.