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Cash demand soars in Puerto Rico after hurricane hit ATMs, card systems
by Reuters
NEW YORK/SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Demand for cash in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico is "extraordinarily high" after power outages knocked out electronic transactions and ATMs but needs were being met for now, a Federal Reserve branch said on Wednesday.
Residents and tourists were counting their dwindling banknotes in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which crippled the electrical grid and communications network, turning the Caribbean island into a largely cash-based economy.
The New York branch of the U.S. central bank, which oversees and makes funds available to Puerto Rico's financial institutions, said it was prepared for another surge in cash demand and could rush more banknotes to the island if necessary.
Cash is just one of the scarce resources on Puerto Rico, which faces shortages of fuel, water and medical supplies after Maria.
With electricity and internet down in Yauco, southwestern Puerto Rico, Nancy and Caesar Nieve said they could not access paychecks directly deposited into their bank accounts.
"What are we going to do when we don't have any cash? The little cash we have, we have to save for gas," said Nancy.
Cash demand spiked in the first few days after the hurricane as merchants were unable to accept other modes of payment.
First BanCorp, one of the island's top banks, said around 28 of its 48 branches remained closed but electronic transactions were resuming and about 25 percent of its ATMs were back online as power and telecommunications were restored.
"The first couple of days were a cash economy. Now electronic transactions are going through," First BanCorp Chief Executive Aurelio Aleman said in a telephone interview, adding that the bank had enough cash on hand.
ATMs are slowly re-opening a week after Maria, the most powerful hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in 90 years, caused widespread flooding and badly damaged homes, roads and other infrastructure on the island of 3.4 million.
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Cash demand soars in Puerto Rico after hurricane hit ATMs, card systems
Cash demand soars in Puerto Rico after hurricane hit ATMs, card systems
by Reuters
NEW YORK/SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Demand for cash in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico is "extraordinarily high" after power outages knocked out electronic transactions and ATMs but needs were being met for now, a Federal Reserve branch said on Wednesday.
Residents and tourists were counting their dwindling banknotes in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which crippled the electrical grid and communications network, turning the Caribbean island into a largely cash-based economy.
The New York branch of the U.S. central bank, which oversees and makes funds available to Puerto Rico's financial institutions, said it was prepared for another surge in cash demand and could rush more banknotes to the island if necessary.
Cash is just one of the scarce resources on Puerto Rico, which faces shortages of fuel, water and medical supplies after Maria.
With electricity and internet down in Yauco, southwestern Puerto Rico, Nancy and Caesar Nieve said they could not access paychecks directly deposited into their bank accounts.
"What are we going to do when we don't have any cash? The little cash we have, we have to save for gas," said Nancy.
Cash demand spiked in the first few days after the hurricane as merchants were unable to accept other modes of payment.
First BanCorp, one of the island's top banks, said around 28 of its 48 branches remained closed but electronic transactions were resuming and about 25 percent of its ATMs were back online as power and telecommunications were restored.
"The first couple of days were a cash economy. Now electronic transactions are going through," First BanCorp Chief Executive Aurelio Aleman said in a telephone interview, adding that the bank had enough cash on hand.
ATMs are slowly re-opening a week after Maria, the most powerful hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in 90 years, caused widespread flooding and badly damaged homes, roads and other infrastructure on the island of 3.4 million.
more at
Cash demand soars in Puerto Rico after hurricane hit ATMs, card systems
Cash demand soars in Puerto Rico after hurricane hit ATMs, card systems
