The efficient implementation of the Government Program, the transformation of service quality, and the response to the population's concerns were the focus of the analysis of the annual balance sheet of the Bank of Credit and Commerce (Bandec in Spanish) in this eastern Cuban province, carried out by videoconference with its national management.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- During the meeting, the results for 2025 were evaluated, and the main projections for the current year were outlined. The provincial leadership, headed by Madelaine Rodríguez Otazua, acknowledged the severe operating scenario marked by the energy contingency and the US economic blockade.
“Every time we face limitations with energy contingencies that reduce service hours, we are forced to reorganize service provision,” explained Rodríguez Otazua. This situation directly impacts access to ATMs and the implementation of new measures, such as the purchase and sale of foreign currency to the population and non-state economic actors.
The bank's top executive in the territory insisted that objective limitations such as obsolete technology, shortages of computer supplies, and restricted hours demand greater creativity and internal organization. The goal, she said, remains to minimize waiting times in lines and prioritize the most urgent services daily, whether it be the payment of salaries, pensions, or foreign exchange transactions.
“We rely on the internal organization of work... what decisions to make daily to see which services to prioritize in relation to the economic environment at that time,” she explained.
NEW EXCHANGE MARKET AND BANKING: PRIORITY AXES
One topic that was analyzed at length was the new design of the exchange market. The board reported that priority is given to currency purchases by individuals, paid in cash at the segment III rate. In addition, the sale of foreign currency to new economic actors authorized by the Official Gazette is managed through the Mi Turno and Kiosco platforms.
The banking penetration of society and support for the Government Program to Correct Distortions and Revitalize the Economy remain strategic priorities. Emphasis was placed on the need for the local business community, including MSMEs, to consolidate their fiscal current accounts at branches to increase exportable funds, especially in food production and renewable energy.
During the exchange, Jorge Ricardo Ramón Ruiz, an official from the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, acknowledged the positive evolution of BANDEC Las Tunas, but stressed the need to improve customer service and the banking process, given the persistence of queues and limitations on online payments.
“The bankarization is one of the most important issues; it is one of the biggest concerns of the population of Las Tunas today,” he said.
Workers from the 11 branches in the territory agreed that, beyond the material difficulties, the staff's attitude is decisive. “We may lack technology, but we cannot lack intention, dedication, good form, saying good morning, trying to solve customers' problems,” reflected one of the participants.
By 2026, BANDEC Las Tunas has set itself the goals of responding to complaints promptly, making progress in changing the energy matrix, and continuing to implement the actions designed to support the national economy.
(With information from TunasVisión and Radio Rebelde)