Is it possible to take money from ATM´s in Cuba?

Question

I am travelling to Cuba in the next couple of weeks - we arrive in April 08. Is it possible to use the bank machines (ATM´s) in Cuba to take out CUC? I am Irish but have both an Irish bank card (Maestro facilitated) and Australian bank card (Maestro Facilitated) as spent the past twelve months in Australia.

Answer 1

I really don't think so, but the best thing to do is call the customer service number on your card and ask them.

Answer 2

YES, if your creditcard is not issued or processed by a US bank . Your Maestro card issued in Ireland by a Irish bank will not give any problems....but. ...there are very few ATM's in Cuba. The best practice still is to enter the bank or CADECA ( official state owned exchange offices) and let the cashier do the operation. The amount you can withdraw at the ATM is limited (can't remember how much ) In Havana there are two ATM's at the CADECA on Obispo street.

The card I used without problems was a Visa creditcard issued in Europe.

Havanalover

http://www.havana-guide.com

Answer 3

I always take euros to Cuba.  My credit card is just a backup.  Last time I lost my credit card in Habana and ended without money.  Since then I take euros and every day I cash what I need in CUC (Unidad Convertible de Cuba).

Answer 4

I live in the UK and have been to Cuba many times. Each time I have drawn out CUCs from the ATMs once I've arrived there. However, in my experience Cuban ATMs accept any card which has the Visa logo on it (and I believe MasterCard as well), but I've never found any ATM or Cuban bank that accepts Maestro or Cirrus. So even if you went to a cashier in a Cuban bank or a "cadeca" (authorised foreign exchange counter), I believe you'd be unsuccessful trying to get cash using a Maestro or Cirrus card. I would suggest you phone either of your banks for advice, but also take with you a Visa card and/or travellers' cheques just in case (though not American Express travellers' cheques, since they won't be accepted due the the Cuba/America situation).

Personally I use my current account cash card when I'm in Cuba, since it's a "Visa Debit" card, i.e. it's a Visa card, but the cash comes out of my current account. This is because using any credit card to get cash means the credit card company will start charging you interest from the moment you get the cash!

I imagine you will most likely be arriving at Havana's "Jose Marti" International Airport. In the baggage reclaim area you should find at least 2 foreign exchange counters and also an ATM. (Typically, the wait for the baggage to arrive on the conveyor belt is pretty long - I've waited an hour before. So there should be plenty of time to get your cash.)

You mentioned CUC - Cuban Convertiable Pesos. This is what the ATMs/banks/cadecas will give you. (The local Cuban pesos, or "Moneda Nacional", are used only by Cubans - they are of no use to toursists.) But note that whether you manage to get CUCs from an ATM or a bank/cadeca, your bank statement will show US dollars, since the amount will be converted by the Cuban banks from CUC to US dollars, and your own bank will then charge you the equivalent in your home currency.

Note that while the major hotels will generally accept credit cards, shops and restaurants typically won't - even if the logos are displayed, they will usually make up some story about the machine not working and will ask you to pay in CUCs. And if you use a 50 CUC note (or bigger) anywhere other than a hotel, don't be surprised if they ask to see your passport.

Remember that CUCs are worthless outside Cuba - I don't know of any bank outside Cuba that will exchange them, so when you fly home, remember to change any remaining CUCs back to euros at the airport. Otherwise you'll have a bundle of CUCs that you can't use until you go to Cuba again. (But remember also that you have to pay an airport departure tax when flying home, so keep enough CUCs to pay that - last time I flew back from Cuba it was 25 CUC per person.)

Ok, I've gone way beyond answering your simple question, but I've assumed that you haven't been to Cuba before, so I hope that what I've told you has been helpful. I would also recommend you check the advice at the UK FCO link below.

Have a great time in Cuba!

Answer 5

The Cuban ATMs accept Visa cards but not Mastercards.

Cuban banks accept both.

Cards issued by US banks do not work in Cuba (including, for example MBNA Europe).