The Central Bank of Cuba announced a package of measures to increase digital payments while managing heavy demand for cash. The main regulatory change amends the existing rules to remove the CUP 5,000 limit on cash payments between economic actors and replaces it with a flexible arrangement under which each actor will agree its cash needs with its bank. That flexibility will be based mainly on income recorded in current or fiscal accounts, especially through Online Payment and Caja Extra, as well as the type of economic activity, territorial conditions and cash availability at bank branches. The package is paired with operational and pricing changes across the banking system. Online Payment transactions will be credited in real time once technology adjustments are completed, with the first phase covering transactions within the same bank from Aug. 1. The merchant commission on Online Payment will fall to 0.8% from 1.5%, a 0.8% commission will apply to transfers between natural persons and legal persons and be borne by the receiving legal person, the fee on cash deposits will be removed, and a 0.2% fee will apply to cash withdrawals. Incentives will also be rebalanced from Aug. 1, with a 4% bonus for consumers using Online Payment capped at CUP 210 for transactions above CUP 5,250, and a 2% bonus for merchants on Online Payment receipts capped at CUP 105. The central bank also changed thresholds for transfers between natural persons by removing the per-transaction threshold and requiring information on the destination of funds only once the monthly threshold is exceeded. That monthly threshold will be 2.5 MMCUP and, in a first stage, transactions above it will be limited through digital channels and require the person to appear physically to declare the purpose of the funds. Banks will gradually open specialized branches, areas or offices for economic actors covering cash management, current or fiscal accounts, reconciliations, financing and access to the foreign exchange market, while the authorities work on replacing the in-person requirement above the threshold with a notification process that can be completed digitally.
Central Bank of Cuba2026-07-17
Central Bank of Cuba eases cash payment rules, introduces real time settlement and fee changes to increase digital payments
The Central Bank of Cuba announced new measures to expand digital payments, centered on removing the CUP 5,000 cash payment limit between economic actors and replacing it with bank-agreed cash access based on account activity and other factors. It also introduced real-time crediting for some online payments from Aug. 1, cut the merchant fee on Online Payment to 0.8%, removed the cash deposit fee and set a 0.2% cash withdrawal fee. Transfer thresholds for natural persons were also revised, and banks will gradually create specialized service points for economic actors.