A photograph shared in the Facebook group "REVOLICO EN EL COTORRO" captures a scene of numerous Cubans queuing outside a bank on 71st Street in El Cotorro, a southeastern district of Havana. They are surrounded by mud, puddles, and sewage water on an unpaved dirt road.
This image, which garnered over 1,187 reactions, encapsulates Cuba's threefold crisis: a collapsing banking system, severe urban decay, and widespread poverty.
This kind of scene is not uncommon. Since April 2026, lengthy lines have become a daily occurrence at banks across Cuba, with waits ranging from four to six hours, primarily involving retirees attempting to collect their pensions.
Last Friday, a commotion erupted in front of a Banco Metropolitano branch in Old Havana, where people shouted that "there's no money, there's nothing."
On Monday, reports emerged that the regime had disabled ATMs in Havana to prevent public unrest, exacerbating the chaos.
Retirement pensions in Cuba range from 3,056 to 4,000 pesos monthly following a partial increase implemented in September 2025, equating to less than 10 USD on the informal market.
A commentator bluntly illustrated the situation: "Look at those people at the bank trying to withdraw a little money that isn't enough to buy even a sack of coal, which costs over 4,000 pesos per sack."
Those who reacted to the post didn't hold back in their descriptions of the scene.
The Human Toll of Banking Woes
"It's unbelievable that this street belongs to this century. It's inexplicable. The bank, the trash, the street, the water puddles... It's all a mess," wrote one user.
Another highlighted the human drama beneath the image: "It's not just the terrible condition of the streets. It's heartbreaking that people spend hours just to withdraw some money to survive. This is too much. How long will this continue?"
Some comments reflected the despair of those familiar with the area. "It looks like a path for ox carts, my Cotorro was once so beautiful," lamented a resident. Another was more succinct: "It seems like another planet."
One commenter noted that the situation in the neighboring municipality of Boyeros is even worse: "Multiply the number of people there by four."
Challenges Faced by Cuban Pensioners
The ordeal for Cuban retirees to collect their pensions worsened since 2023 due to a policy known as "bancarization," promoted by the Central Bank to encourage digital payments but failing to address the shortage of physical bills. Since August of that year, a limit of 5,000 pesos per transaction at ATMs has been enforced.
Summing up the collective sentiment, a user wrote: "Our grandparents dying in constant agony, the youth with no future, children without a glass of milk. A country in exodus... A symbol of the humanitarian disaster in Cuba."
Understanding Cuba's Banking Crisis
Why are there long lines at Cuban banks?
Long lines at Cuban banks are due to a combination of factors including the collapse of the banking system, a shortage of physical currency, and limitations on ATM withdrawals.
What is the "bancarization" policy in Cuba?
The "bancarization" policy, introduced by Cuba's Central Bank, aimed to promote digital payments but failed to resolve the scarcity of cash, complicating the situation for pensioners and the general public.
How much do Cuban pensions amount to in USD?
Cuban pensions range from 3,056 to 4,000 pesos monthly, which translates to less than 10 USD in the informal market.