Top up BANDEC Tropical Card — Cuba
The Tarjeta Tropical from BANDEC — Cuba's anonymous prepaid card in real US dollars. Top it up from Europe: no ID required for the recipient, valid for 5 years, accepted in 10 currencies. Transfer time 5–7 business days.
Top up the Tropical Card now★★★★☆ 4.3 on Trustpilot · 3,942 reviews
How to top up the BANDEC Tropical Card
Fonmoney Cuba makes it simple to top up BANDEC Tropical card in five steps — no paperwork, straight from your computer or phone.
- 1Create an account or log in — register at fonmoney.com or sign in to your existing account.
- 2Choose the product — under Cuba Services, select the Tropical card Cuba and enter the recipient's 16-digit card number.
- 3Set the amount — first top-up minimum 50 USD, subsequent top-ups with no minimum.
- 4Pay — by credit card or bank transfer. Fees and exchange rate are shown before you confirm.
- 5Done — you'll receive a confirmation email; the balance appears on the card within 5–7 business days.
The recipient can use the card straight away at POS terminals across Cuba — supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations and duty-free shops.
More on the BANDEC Tropical Card or BANDEC bank information.
Advantages of the Tarjeta Tropical
Fonmoney Cuba has supported prepaid card Cuba top up since the Tropical launched. Key advantages over other Cuba products:
✓ Anonymous card — the recipient does not need to show ID to use the balance.
✓ Real US dollars — balance in USD, not in MLC. Independent of Cuba's currency system.
✓ No FINCIMEX link — BANDEC is a state bank with no connection to FINCIMEX.
✓ Valid for 5 years — balance does not expire after a few months.
✓ 10 currencies — EUR, USD, GBP, CAD, CHF, MXN, DOP, NOK, JPY and DKK.
✓ Accepted island-wide — at POS terminals compatible with Cuba card reload: retail, pharmacies, petrol stations and selected online shops.
Secure top-up
All payment pages are SSL encrypted. Card and transfer details are never stored.
Confirmation email as soon as the balance is credited. If anything goes wrong, our support team steps in.
Fonmoney is registered with the Banco de España as a payment institution and operates under EU payment services regulations.
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Frequently asked questions — BANDEC Tropical Card Cuba
▸ What is the BANDEC Tropical Card?
The Tarjeta Tropical (also known as the "coconut card") is an anonymous prepaid card issued by BANDEC (Banco de Crédito y Comercio). It holds real US dollars and is valid for 5 years. The recipient does not need to show ID to use the balance.
▸ How long does a Tropical Card top-up take?
The transfer usually takes 5–7 business days. For bank transfers, add 1–2 business days for Fonmoney Cuba to receive the payment.
▸ Which payment methods are accepted?
Fonmoney accepts credit card and bank transfer. Fees and exchange rate are shown before you confirm the payment.
▸ What is the difference between the Tropical Card and the MLC card?
The Tropical Card holds real US dollars and is anonymous — no Cuban bank account needed. The MLC card is a digital accounting currency with no physical USD backing and requires a Cuban bank account. The Tropical is more independent and less exposed to fluctuations in Cuba's currency system.
▸ Why is BANDEC a better option than FINCIMEX?
FINCIMEX (issuer of the discontinued TC and AIS cards) appears on OFAC US sanctions lists; Visa and Mastercard have ended their relationship with it. BANDEC is a Cuban state bank with no FINCIMEX connection — top-ups go through verified channels.
▸ Can the recipient withdraw USD cash?
Cuban ATMs only dispense Cuban pesos (CUP), not USD cash. The full USD balance is available for payments at POS terminals — retail stores, pharmacies, petrol stations, duty-free shops and selected online retailers.
What our customers say
"My sister in Havana received the money in her Banco Metropolitano account within a few days. The whole process with Fonmoney was straightforward."
Emily R.
United Kingdom · ★★★★★
"Every month I send money to my mother's BPA account. Fonmoney works reliably, and the support team responds quickly."
Daniel H.
United States · ★★★★★
"I first tried a transfer to a Banco de Ahorro account, then to one at the BPA. Both arrived without any issues through Fonmoney."
Chloe T.
Canada · ★★★★★