Banking in Bulgaria offers lower cost investment options because costs of doing business and taxes are low compared to European standards. Bulgaria is a member of the EU and NATO. Banks in Bulgaria are rated positive and stable by Standard & Poor's. Most Bulgarian ATMs have English options and its banks have English-version websites. You will find English-speaking bank officials in the foreign exchange departments. Shop around to secure the best exchange rate commissions using a list of Bulgarian banks.

A list of banks in Bulgaria begins with Bulgarian National Bank, also known as the Bulgaria Central Bank. It is the largest bank in Bulgaria. BNB owns the Bulgarian mint and issues Bulgaria’s currency. It is located, along with local, global and international banks in the city of Sofia, Bulgaria's capital.

1. Research Bulgarian banks to determine the banks that work best for your investment interests.

2. Use Standard & Poor ratings and IMF information to judge risk levels. These institutions are independent sources for ratings and risks.

3. Compare exchange commissions and bank accessibility to get the right bank for you.

Commercial banks in Bulgaria offer investments in utilities and telecommunications sectors. Global banks in Bulgaria offer broad ranges of services and investments. Local banks in Bulgaria invest in real estate.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use these resources for banking in Bulgaria

Use credit-rating websites to get the most up-to-date ratings for Bulgarian banks.

I recommend: Standard & Poor's website contains Bulgarian banking information. This agency gives accurate and up-to-date information on financial standings of Bulgarian bank rates and risks. Use the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as another objective resource for choosing a Bulgarian bank that will work best for you.

Research the opportunities and venues to determine the best Bulgarian banks for your needs

Investigate banking in Bulgaria through independent and Bulgarian investment resources.

I recommend: Invest Bulgaria is designed for people and/or institutions interested in banking in Bulgaria. It includes a list of Bulgarian banks, facts sheets, an investor kit, and properties. It is a dedicated website backed by Bulgarian interests. The Bulgarian National Bank performs oversight for all banks operating in Bulgaria and is a strategic source of information.

Educate yourself in assessing banking in Bulgaria

There are advantages to using Bulgaria banks. Bulgaria has an educated population with a lower cost of living compared to Europe. This equals lower costs of doing business. Bulgaria banks invest in the country's infrastructure increasing investment opportunities.

I recommend: International banks that operate in Bulgaria offer bigger investment opportunties; check the list at Bulgaria Investment Guide. Property is an excellent investment for individuals with loans from local banks listed at My Bulgaria or the website of L. Nachev.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Web resources are invaluable in investigating banking in Bulgaria; but it is important to make contact to individual banks via email and/or telephone. Plan on calling at least five banks to make sure that language is not a problem. Customer service is extremely important in foreign investing.