Cash crisis in Cuba: Are the "vulnerable" being prioritized in ATM lines?

The cash crisis for paying salaries and pensions for retirees, or for simple monetary transactions, persists in Cuba. The government encourages prioritizing "vulnerable" people in lines at bank ATMs, but also points out that many people take advantage of this.

A report of diario Cienfuegos, September 5, details this, amidst the sad panorama, of the presence of women with small children and people with canes or wheelchairs at ATMs, as a common scene.

In Cienfuegos, the presence of women with small children and people with physical disabilities at ATMs is reported to be common.

However, what is striking is not only their frequency, but also the fact that these people are located in separate lines, separated from the crowds waiting for cash, and often with no intention of accessing the bank branch.

This scenario highlights a complex reality. For employees, obtaining cash means long waits, inconvenient nights, and, at times, the inability to meet their objectives.

Banking, cash crisis, and ATMs in Cuba

The lack of shops that accept digital payments and the misuse of certain rights worsens this situation, which can consume entire days of the month.

Adding to this problem is the phenomenon of "queue-coleros" (people who wait in line) and those who, claiming their vulnerability, demand priority access to services.

Although authorities try to control these dynamics, it is common to see additional lines of women with children in their arms and people with disabilities who insist on exercising their right of priority.

This raises questions about how to balance the needs of these groups with those of workers who interrupt their workdays to access cash.

Although banks have systems in place to serve people with disabilities and pensioners under specific rules, many prefer ATMs due to the simplicity of the process.

However, these aren't always legitimate needs, as these priorities are sometimes used as excuses to use other people's cards.

The dependence on cash in a context of increasing digitalization further complicates the situation.

While many payments don't require physical cash, their scarcity affects consumers and merchants. Paycheck payments in Cuba amid the cash crisis and the shortage of cash at ATMs are already going too far.