Havana , Cuba ( CNN ) -- Already difficult , traveling to Cuba from the United States may soon be getting a lot harder . The Cuban government said Tuesday it has suspended all consular services it provides in the United States because it can not find a U.S. bank willing to take its business . The move could severely impact Cuban-Americans ' ability to visit family on the island . The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it will try to assist Cuba 's bid for a solution . Cubans who spend more than two years away from the island are required by the Cuban government to apply for permission to return , even for a short visit . While the U.S. economic embargo prevents commercial transaction with the island , some exceptions are allowed such as the Cuban diplomatic mission or Interests Section in Washington and the U.S. equivalent in Havana . U.S. hosts Cuba migration talks . According to a Cuban government statement , M & T Bank in July said it would no longer service Cuban banking needs in the United States . `` This act will provoke grave problems with the normal operations of the Interests Section and Permanent Mission at the United Nations , '' the Cuban government said in a statement released Tuesday . M & T Bank , based in Buffalo , New York , did not immediately respond to an inquiry from CNN regarding the matter . The State Department said it was a `` business decision . '' `` We can not force a private bank to provide services to a diplomatic mission , '' the State Department said . The Cuban government said it has been unable to find another bank willing to handle its financial transactions in the United States . The government said it needs a bank in the United States to handle transactions , including issuing documents for travel . Cuba to do away with dual currency system . The statement said everything but humanitarian services would be halted , meaning that direct travel between the United States and Cuba could be severely impacted . It 's unclear when travel between the two countries will be affected . The process to journey to and from Cuba already was a lengthy and complicated process . According to Cuban government statistics , nearly 100,000 U.S. citizens traveled to Cuba last year , despite the decades-old U.S. travel ban . The Obama administration in 2009 allowed Cubans with family on the island to make unlimited trips to the island and permitted U.S. citizens engaging in `` people-to-people '' travel with a licensed tour guide to visit the island . `` The [ Interests ] Section particularly regrets the affect this situation will have on Cuban citizens and Americans , '' the Cuban statement said . `` It will have negative consequences on family visits , exchanges of an academic , cultural , educational , scientific and sporting nature between Cuba and the US . '' The State Department said , `` The U.S. government seeks to help foreign missions in the United States that have been unable to obtain banking services , while ensuring the continued security of the U.S. financial system including through appropriate regulatory oversight . '' Cuba libre : Could port herald new economic age ? Cuba to allow athletes to seek pro contracts abroad .
NEW : State Department says it will try to assist Cuba . Cuba says it no longer has bank in U.S. to handle consular matters . This could affect travel transactions for visitors , citizens . Relatives in U.S. have been able to visit Cuba .