Three years after the mandatory electronic payment system was enforced, businesses in Sancti Spíritus are either charging up to a 40% surcharge or outright rejecting electronic transfers, highlighting the failure of the forced banking initiative. Banking statistics from Sancti Spíritus indicate a decline in the use of these systems. Maité Hernández Gómez, head of the Electronic Banking Department at the Banco Popular de Ahorro (BPA) in the province, reported over 1,600,000 electronic transactions in the first quarter of 2026, a decrease compared to the same period the previous year. A survey by Radio Sancti Spíritus in May revealed that less than 10% of the province's private businesses consistently accept transfers. So far in 2026, Sancti Spíritus has issued over 80 fines for violations related to online payments, the media reported.