BNB: 89% of Levs Withdrawn from Circulation Before Euro Introduction

14.03.2026 | Statistics and regulation

The Central Bank notes significant progress in withdrawing Levs from circulation before the introduction of the Euro. As of March 13, 2025, 89% of the Levs are already in the BNB, with 3.4 billion Levs remaining in circulation. The issuance of the Euro is also increasing.

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The withdrawn banknotes and coins in leva that were in circulation at the beginning of 2026 are now at 89 percent, with 3.4 billion leva remaining outside the Bulgarian National Bank's vaults as of today (March 13), the central bank announced. 

On February 27, when a similar report was last provided, the withdrawn coins and leva were at 87 percent, with 3.9 billion leva remaining in circulation.

Thus, around 500 million leva have been deposited in the BNB's vaults in two weeks.

Euro banknotes and euro coins in circulation (net issue, representing the difference between euro banknotes and euro coins withdrawn from and deposited in the BNB - editor's note) are currently worth over 8.0 billion euros, compared to 7.5 billion euros as of February 27.

As of February 1, 2026, the euro is the only legal tender in the Republic of Bulgaria, the BNB adds.