A Cuban woman named Liss Karla La Loba shared a video on Facebook from San Antonio de los Baños in the province of Artemisa, expressing her frustration and desperation over being unable to access funds from her bank card to purchase medication and food for her ailing mother, who relies on morphine.
"Look, I need someone here in San Antonio de los Baños to tell me where I can go to withdraw 500 pesos from the card or buy something with the card, with that imaginary money they gave us," she declares in the video, visibly distressed.
According to her account, the bank permits her to withdraw only 500 pesos in cash, and she is informed that this transaction can only be performed once a week.
"I go to the bank, but I can't, because my mother depends on morphine. To get money, the only thing they allow is 500 daily. And when you get there, they tell you no, it's once a week, and with 500 pesos, sister, you can't eat here," she asserts.
Challenges with Digital Money
The situation worsens as most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in her area do not accept bank transfers, leaving her with no options to convert this digital balance into tangible goods.
"I need to have wet wipes, food, and medication. I need to have a resolution* here for thousands of necessities that I can't meet because the money is stuck on the darn card, and no one accepts it," she laments.
When she manages to find a seller who accepts transfers, the cost skyrockets: "You have to pay an extra 10%, 20%, 30% of whatever the person asks. And I'm not a millionaire."
Widespread Banking Crisis
The video has garnered over 116,000 views and nearly 450 comments, highlighting a banking crisis that spans the entire island.
Liss Karla's story is not unique. In June 2026, the government of Granma province admitted it lacked cash to pay pensions for over 111,000 retirees. That same month, Havana's Banco Metropolitano reduced the withdrawal limit from 5,000 to 3,000 pesos per transaction, and more than half of the ATMs in the capital were non-operational by May 2026.
In Santiago de Cuba, fees to convert transfers to cash can reach up to 50%, and in Morón, Ciego de Ávila province, citizens must pay 500 pesos to an intermediary just to secure a spot in line to collect their wages.
The Vicious Cycle of Digital Transactions
The vicious cycle is relentless: the regime pays wages and pensions through digital transfers, but state banks lack the actual liquidity to support these balances. SMEs don't accept transfers because they can't withdraw the funds for reinvestment, leaving citizens stuck with a number on a screen that they can't turn into goods.
Mandatory bank digitization, imposed in 2023, legally requires SMEs to accept transfers, with fines up to 60,000 pesos for non-compliance, leading to the closure of over 475 establishments for violating this rule. However, fewer than 10% of private businesses in provinces like Sancti Spíritus and Pinar del Río regularly comply with the regulations.
The video was published four days before the fifth anniversary of July 11, 2021, the date when San Antonio de los Baños was the spontaneous starting point of the largest popular protests in Cuba since 1959. Several comments on the video explicitly reference that date as a potential turning point.
Liss Karla concluded her plea with a statement that encapsulates the sentiment of thousands of Cubans: "It seems like a lack of respect, just another mess."
Understanding Cuba's Banking Challenges
Why can't Liss Karla access her money?
Liss Karla is unable to access her money because the bank allows her to withdraw only 500 pesos weekly, and most local businesses do not accept digital transfers.
What is the impact of the banking crisis in Cuba?
The banking crisis in Cuba has led to limited access to cash, high transaction fees, and difficulties in converting digital money into goods, affecting the daily lives of many Cubans.
How has the government responded to the banking issues?
The government has imposed mandatory bank digitization laws, requiring businesses to accept digital transfers, but compliance is low, and many citizens still face challenges accessing their funds.