A bank in Havana that had sent its customers home due to an alleged server outage astonishingly resumed operations within minutes following the arrival of a journalist. According to a complaint shared on Facebook, no technicians were seen repairing the system.
The Facebook page, "La Cuba Real," reported this Thursday about an incident at a branch located at Prado, corner of Ánimas and Virtudes in Old Havana. Bank employees had informed customers that they were unable to provide service as their server was down, with technicians allegedly addressing a similar issue at another location.
Clients were advised to leave and visit other banks, with repairs anticipated to last the entire day, potentially pushing services to resume only after the weekend. Yet, a journalist from the state press, who was working on a story in front of the Palace of Marriages, noticed the empty branch and approached it. In mere moments, the system was back online, and services resumed as usual, according to reports on social media.
This event sparked numerous reactions and questions about the initial explanation given to customers. "Was the server ever really down? Would the staff have taken the day off if the journalist hadn't shown up?" asked the author of the complaint, who also wondered about the funds intended for distribution to the public that day.
Customer Frustrations and Questionable Practices
Comments included various accounts of challenges at other Havana bank branches. One individual noted that at the bank located at 29 and 42 in the Playa municipality, clients were told to wait for a password change, but the branch opened half an hour later, after most had left. "Complete mockery and disgrace for the people," they commented.
Another user shared their experience of waiting four hours in line only to have their ID card returned without service at 3:30 PM. They reported that during the lunch hour, just one teller was assisting customers.
Allegations of Corruption and Systemic Issues
From a branch at 23 and Malecón in Vedado, a person alleged the existence of intermediaries controlling appointments. "There’s a token system run by an organizer, and each token holder pays 1,000 pesos to secure 10 daily turns," they claimed.
Other comments suggested that frequent explanations of power outages and technological failures were being used to justify service interruptions. "That's the current trend with banks; between the blackout and the server, they're passing the buck," remarked a netizen.
The Broader Banking Crisis in Cuba
This controversy arises amidst a banking crisis that complicates Cubans' access to cash, with ATMs out of service, reduced withdrawal limits, and long lines to collect wages and pensions.
In July, journalist and professor Iraida Calzadilla recounted waiting eight hours on a curb to collect her pension at a branch within the Ministry of Transport.
In response to Calzadilla's post, Ricardo López Hevia, a photojournalist for the official Granma newspaper, described what he witnessed in just 10 minutes at a bank in the Mónaco neighborhood, Diez de Octubre: "I saw shouting, tears of frustration, cane strikes, and loud accusations," he wrote.
These challenges followed the mandatory transition to bank-based transactions in August 2023, shifting salary and pension payments to bank cards without adequate technological infrastructure to meet the cash demand.
In June, the Metropolitan Bank reportedly deactivated ATMs to prevent customer 'bother,' reducing withdrawal limits from 5,000 to 3,000 pesos per transaction. The cash shortage also forced looking for alternatives outside the state banking network. In Guantánamo, 113 private businesses took over pension payments for over 3,000 retirees in August, highlighting the struggle to provide a basic service through traditional channels.
The incident at Prado, Ánimas, and Virtudes raises further questions about the quality of banking service and the transparency of the explanations provided when a branch halts its operations. For now, the complaint shared on social media lacks independent confirmation regarding the cause of the outage or the circumstances that led to the resumption of service.
FAQs About Banking Issues in Cuba
What triggered the service resumption at the Havana bank?
A journalist's arrival at the branch seemingly prompted the quick restoration of service, though no technicians were seen making repairs.
Are there reports of banking issues elsewhere in Havana?
Yes, there have been multiple accounts of service interruptions and long wait times at various bank branches across Havana.
What broader banking issues are affecting Cubans?
Cubans face challenges such as limited ATM service, reduced withdrawal limits, and long queues for cash transactions due to a banking crisis.