The loading of ATMs with euros will begin on the night of January 1st. This was announced in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio by Nikola Bakalov, holding the position of Chief Executive Officer in one of the leading banking institutions in the country and a member of the Management Board of the Association of Banks in Bulgaria.
According to the information provided by Mr. Bakalov, on the morning after New Year's Day, citizens will be able to withdraw euro banknotes from ATMs. This is a key step in the process of introducing the new currency.
He again appealed to all those who have significant amounts of Bulgarian levs in cash to deposit them free of charge into their accounts. According to the assurances, on New Year's Eve, these funds will be automatically and free of charge converted into euros. The conversion will be carried out at the fixed official exchange rate, set at 1.95583 levs per one euro.
"We still see a more hesitant [introduction of the euro], but I expect in the last 50 or so days that this process will intensify in all bank branches – people to deposit their funds, because this is free at most banks, so that from January 1, 2026, automatically, free of charge at the fixed rate that is announced, without any involvement of the consumer himself, the banks will exchange the citizens' levs into euros," emphasized Mr. Bakalov.
He explained that this is the easiest way to exchange the currency without requiring additional effort. After January 1st, the process remains free and is carried out at a fixed rate. Regardless, the expert expressed concerns that increased activity in bank branches may be observed during the first days of the new year. "They typically in the last moment will remember that they have to do this too. And there may be crowds, which we are trying to warn people about in every way early, so that this thing doesn't happen", he said.
In conclusion, Mr. Bakalov emphasized that at the moment there is no need for premature exchange of levs into euros. The official currency in the country remains the Bulgarian lev, and citizens can make payments in levs until December 31st without a problem.