Bahamian banking services are facing severe criticism from Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) chairman Fred Mitchell, who has called for immediate Central Bank intervention to address extensive check clearing delays affecting customers nationwide. The Fox Hill MP issued a forceful condemnation through a widely circulated voice note on Wednesday, revealing that constituents are experiencing what he characterized as “unacceptable” service quality within the financial sector. Mitchell’s concerns emerged after investigating a specific case where a customer endured a nine-day waiting period for a check to clear, with subsequent reports revealing similar patterns of systemic inefficiency. The parliamentarian emphasized that modern banking systems should process checks within 24 hours, attributing current delays to insufficient technological investment and outdated infrastructure. He provided striking international comparisons, noting that United States banking customers can deposit checks instantly through mobile applications, while African nations utilize SMS-based transaction systems that function with cash-like efficiency. Mitchell further accused financial institutions of deliberately steering customers toward digital services while simultaneously reducing in-person banking options and increasing service fees. He warned that governmental and corporate rhetoric regarding digital transformation and artificial intelligence remains meaningless without substantial infrastructure improvements. Expanding his critique beyond banking, Mitchell also targeted telecommunications services, connecting current deficiencies to the Free National Movement’s historical decision to privatize the Bahamas Telecommunications Company. The PLP chairman suggested his party would require additional governance terms to comprehensively address these lingering infrastructural challenges. This represents Mitchell’s latest intervention in ongoing banking sector controversies, following previous criticisms regarding account opening delays, escalating fees, and what he perceives as a premature transition away from cash-based transactions. He has indicated that legislative measures imposing stricter regulations on commercial banks might become necessary. Banking accessibility concerns have found resonance across political lines, with Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard having raised similar issues in Parliament during May 2025. Pintard highlighted the withdrawal of banking services from multiple Family Islands and advocated for stronger governmental oversight, referencing his party’s 2024 reform proposals that included restoring services to underserved communities and increasing Bahamian ownership within the financial sector.