Cuba imposes mandatory electronic payments for almost all state and private commerce.

This week, the Ministry of Domestic Trade officially announced new regulations that make electronic payment methods mandatory in the Cuban commercial system, both at the state and private sector levels.

Resolution 15/2025, published in the Official Gazette No. 44, establishes that all transactions between companies, MSMEs, and self-employed workers must be conducted cashlessly, through bank transfers, magnetic cards, point-of-sale terminals (POS), or QR codes, as appropriate.

Goodbye to cash between companies

From now on, retail businesses and their parent business units are required to pay electronically upon receipt of food and non-food products, cigarettes, tobacco, and matches. This rule also applies to meat, fishing, bakery, and agricultural harvesting businesses. The only exceptions are products included in the standard family basket, which may be purchased with a local letter of credit or by bank transfer after prior reconciliation.

Purchases of products for restaurants, in-house accommodations, or personal services must also be made with electronic payment upon delivery.

MERCABAL, UNITIENDAS and state leases: digital payments only

The mandatory use of electronic means extends to all state establishments that offer services to individuals or legal entities. MERCABAL and UNITIENDAS stores will only accept bank transfers or card payments, as will leases for premises to economic entities. Retail sales on credit, transactions with imported products through the foreign exchange market, and accommodation services for institutional clients must also follow this scheme.

In the event of non-compliance, supplier companies will be empowered to suspend deliveries, even in the case of controlled or standardized products.

Changes also for wholesale trade and social consumption

Wholesale food companies must apply these digital methods to both sales within the business system and the budgeted sector. In the latter case, new deliveries cannot be made if previous purchases have not been settled.

The use of local letters of credit is also formalized as a priority financing option, especially for the purchase of products destined for the regulated network. Other options include advance payment, cash on delivery, and 30-day bank loans, all duly reconciled and recorded.

Strict control, individual responsibility

The document requires a higher level of internal control. Any person authorized to operate bank cards, transfers, or digital instruments must assume direct responsibility. The Central Bank of Cuba reserves the right to allow alternative payment methods only in exceptional situations, such as natural disasters.

The resolution repeals the previous 2022 regulations and grants state-owned and budgeted companies 30 days to modify all contracts that do not comply with these new rules.

Digital advancement or additional burden?

Although presented as a measure of "financial recovery" and "trade modernization," the resolution comes at a time when many businesses are facing liquidity shortages, technological difficulties, and connectivity issues. Furthermore, ordinary citizens continue to experience limited banking infrastructure, where digital transactions often fail or experience delays.

In practice, the official text requires all economic actors to adopt a banking-based operating model, without accompanying tax incentives, guarantees of technological stability, or visible improvements in the supply chain.

The goal is clear: reduce the use of cash and increase state control over the country's financial flows.