Starting 1 March, the credit card company will allow its cards issued in the United States to be used in the island nation

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

MasterCard Inc has announced it will allow its cards issued in the United States to be used in Cuba from 1 March.

The United States announced sweeping new rules this month that will significantly ease sanctions on Cuba, opening up the communist-ruled island to expanded US travel, trade and financial activities.

MasterCard was removing the block following guidance from the US Department of Treasury’s office of foreign assets control, the company said in a post on its website.



Transactions using its cards will, however, stay blocked in North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Syria, the company said in an email to Reuters.

The company said it was the first to unblock transactions in Cuba. American Express Co said it was reviewing the OFAC guideline, while Visa Inc was not immediately available to discuss its plans.

“We are evaluating the OFAC guidelines that came out late last week to better understand what is permissible and how we would operate if we choose to do so,” American Express said in an email.