The transition to the euro on January 1, 2026, in Bulgaria requires significant adjustments to the systems of commercial banks. Because of this, there will be interruptions in some banking services in the last days of 2025 and the first days of the new year. Balances in bank accounts will be automatically converted from leva to euros, and the IBAN of the accounts will remain the same, so no prior preparation or action is required from the clients.
The main technical interruption, which will affect the clients of all banks, is scheduled between 9:00 PM on December 31 and 1:00 AM after midnight on January 1. During this interval, it will not be possible to pay with a physical card at a POS terminal or on the internet, as well as to withdraw cash at an ATM. The technical interruptions of banking services are similar for most banks on the domestic market with small differences in the specified periods, necessary for the readjustment of the systems.
Most banks advise clients to have cash on hand in the hours around New Year's Eve. In January 2026, a period of dual circulation in leva and euros will be in effect. Clients should also keep in mind the deadlines for interbank transfers and transfers to the budget.
Here is information about the specific interruptions of the main banks:
Bank DSK
- Payment with cards at a POS terminal and cash withdrawals at an ATM will not be possible in the period from 9:00 PM on December 31 to 1:00 AM on January 1, 2026.
- Electronic channels stop working at 4:00 PM on December 31, and access will be restored in stages from the end of the day on January 1 to the end of the day on January 2.
- Payments of utility bills/local taxes and fees will be stopped at 5:30 PM on December 29.
United Bulgarian Bank
- For payments with cards at a POS terminal and online purchases (including with applications), as well as withdrawals and deposits at an ATM, short interruptions are possible between 9:00 PM on December 31 and 1:00 AM on January 1.
- Online banking and mobile banking will not be available after 8:30 PM on December 30. Restoration will begin in stages from 5:00 AM on January 1, 2026.
UniCredit Bulbank
- In the period from 9:00 PM on 12/31/2025 to 1:00 AM on 01/01/2026, temporary interruptions in the work of cards, ATMs and POS terminals are possible.
- Payments through the mobile and online application to other banks will be accepted until 2:00 PM on 12/30/2025, and to accounts in "UniCredit Bulbank" - until 7:00 PM (excluding transfers to budget accounts, which are until 2:00 PM) - on the same date.
- Depositing of leva at ATMs will be possible until 10:00 AM on 12/30/2025, and from 01/04/2026, deposits can only be made in euros.
Postbank
- Card systems will be activated again in the first hour of the new year. They will be available after 1:00 AM on January 1, 2026.
- ATMs will be loaded simultaneously with leva and euros on December 30, 2025, and after 1:00 AM on January 1, 2026, all ATMs will distribute and accept only euros.
- The technical switch to the new currency in the digital banking platforms will begin on December 30, 2025, and the restoration of services is expected by January 2, 2026.
- Temporary unavailability of services for paying local taxes and fees is possible from December 29 to January 5.
First Investment Bank
- Card payments, ATMs and POS devices will not work between 10:00 PM on December 31, 2025, and 1:00 AM on January 1, 2026.
- Mobile and web banking via My Fibank will be temporarily unavailable from 10:00 PM on December 31, 2025, to 1:00 AM on January 1, 2026.
Central Cooperative Bank
- For card payments, online purchases, digital wallets, POS terminals and ATMs, a temporary interruption of access to the services is planned from 9:00 PM on 12/31/2025 to 1:00 AM on 01/01/2026.
- Access to digital channels CCB Mobile and Internet Banking (CCB Online) will be temporarily suspended from 2:30 PM on 12/30/2025, with restoration on 01/02/2026 from 12:00 PM.
- Payments of utility bills will be possible until 2:00 PM on 12/30/2025.
- On 01/01/2026, it will be possible to withdraw amounts only in euros at ATMs.
ProCredit Bank
- A short interruption of payments/withdrawals with a card is planned from 11:30 PM to 11:59 PM on December 31, 2025.
- Access to the mobile application and internet banking will be completely stopped from 2:30 PM on December 30, 2025, to January 2, 2026.
TBI Bank
- Card payments are expected to stop at 8:00 PM on December 31 and will be restored after 12:00 AM on January 1, 2026.
- From midnight on the 29th of December, individual functionalities of the mobile application will be gradually stopped, and access to it will be fully restored on the evening of the 2nd of January.
Investbank
- Payments at POS terminals with a card will not function from 10:00 PM on December 31 to 1:00 AM on January 1, 2026.
- Cash withdrawals from ATMs will be carried out in leva until 10:45 AM on December 30, 2025, after which they stop working for technological conversion. After 2:00 AM on January 1, 2026, ATMs resume operation and clients will withdraw amounts only in euros.
- Access to internet and mobile banking will be completely interrupted from 12:00 PM on December 30, 2025, to 12:00 PM on January 3, 2026.
International Asset Bank
- Card payments at POS terminals and on the internet will not function in the period from 9:00 PM on December 31 to 1:00 AM on January 1, 2026.
- A period of temporary shutdown of ATMs is planned from 9:00 PM on December 31 to 1:00 AM on January 1.
- The bank's electronic channels Asset Online and Asset Mobile will not work from 1:30 PM on December 30, 2025, to 1:30 PM on January 1, 2026.
Bulgarian-American Credit Bank
- Expected short interruptions of card payments between 11:30 PM on December 31, 2025 and 12:00 AM on January 1, 2026.
- ATMs will not be available from 9:00 PM on December 31 to 12:00 AM on January 1, 2026.
- Online platforms and mobile applications will be available until 5:00 PM on December 30, 2025, with restoration after 12:00 PM on January 2, 2026.
Municipal Bank
- ATM withdrawals and POS terminal payments in commercial establishments will be available until 9:00 PM on New Year's Eve.
- The process of switching card services, ATMs and POS terminals will begin at 9:00 PM on December 31 and will continue until 1:00 AM on January 1.
- Online and mobile banking will be available again at the end of the day on 01/01/2026.
Targovska Bank D
- Banking systems will be reconfigured to work with euros, cards will not be able to be used at ATMs, payments at POS terminals and online in an interval for technical reconfiguration from 9:00 PM on December 31, 2025, to 12:30 AM on January 1, 2026.
- Access to digital channels will not be available from 3:00 PM on 12/30/2025 until the end of the day on 01/03/2026.
Texim Bank
- The processing of transactions at all POS terminals will be in the process of reconfiguring the systems to the euro currency on 12/31/2025 at 9:00 PM.
Tokuda Bank
- Card operations will be restored in the first hours of 2026, after which card payments will be made only in euros.
- Technical preparation for the new currency in internet banking will begin on December 30, 2025, and it is expected that all online services and operations will be restored on January 3, 2026.
What to do?
- Check the information for your bank to be aware of the specific interruptions.
- Withdraw cash before the New Year holidays to be prepared.
- Plan your payments in advance.
- Be patient if problems arise with banking services.
Follow these tips and you will be able to smoothly transition to the euro!