Reference · 2026
Opening a Bulgarian business bank account in 2026
Which banks actually accept non-resident owners, what they charge, the document pack they ask for, how long compliance takes, and where an e-money account is genuinely enough.
- Typical monthly fee
- BGN 10-35
- Approval time
- 3-10 days
- Deposit cover
- EUR 100,000
Bulgarian banks and EMIs compared
Pricing bands are 2026 business-tariff ranges for a standard corporate current account. Compliance appetite matters more than a few lev of monthly fee.
UniCredit Bulbank
BGN 15-30 (EUR 8-15) / month
Opening: BGN 0-50 (EUR 0-25)
Remote: No - manager must attend in person
Widest branch network, English online banking, comfortable with EU-owned companies. Slower compliance review for non-EU beneficial owners.
DSK Bank (OTP)
BGN 12-25 (EUR 6-13) / month
Opening: BGN 0-40 (EUR 0-20)
Remote: No
Fast account opening once documents are complete, good card issuing, weaker on multi-currency pricing.
Postbank (Eurobank)
BGN 15-35 (EUR 8-18) / month
Opening: BGN 0-50 (EUR 0-25)
Remote: No
Used often by service companies with EU clients; reasonable SEPA pricing and decent English support in Sofia.
Fibank
BGN 10-25 (EUR 5-13) / month
Opening: BGN 0-30 (EUR 0-15)
Remote: No
More flexible onboarding for smaller companies, but expect closer questions about the source of funds.
Wise Business (EMI)
None / month
Opening: One-off EUR 42 setup
Remote: Yes - fully online
Not a Bulgarian bank. Excellent for multi-currency invoicing, but it cannot issue the capital deposit certificate and some counterparties insist on a local IBAN.
Revolut Business (EMI)
EUR 0-79 by plan / month
Opening: None
Remote: Yes - fully online
Fast onboarding and good cards. Same limitation: it is an e-money institution, not a Bulgarian credit institution.
Tariffs change; treat these as planning ranges and confirm the current schedule with the bank before you commit to an appointment.
How the process runs
Step 1
Before incorporation
You need a capital accumulation account to deposit the share capital before the company is registered. Any Bulgarian bank will open this against the draft incorporation documents; it converts into the operating account after registration.
Step 2
Pick the bank before you travel
Banks differ far more on compliance appetite than on price. Confirm in writing that they accept your ownership structure and country of residence before booking a flight, and ask for the document list in English.
Step 3
Appointment and interview
The manager attends in person with the document pack. Expect a 30-60 minute compliance interview about the business model, the source of the capital, and expected counterparties. Answer concretely; vague answers are the main cause of refusal.
Step 4
Compliance review
Standard review is 3-10 working days for EU-resident owners and 2-4 weeks where the beneficial owner sits outside the EU or the activity touches crypto, gambling, or high-risk jurisdictions.
Step 5
Activation
Once approved you receive the IBAN, online banking tokens and debit cards. Give the IBAN to your accountant immediately so bank feeds and VAT reconciliation start from the first month.
The document pack
- Certificate of good standing from the Commercial Register (issued within the last 30 days, sometimes 7 for stricter banks).
- Articles of association and the sole owner's or shareholders' resolution appointing the manager.
- Passport or ID of every manager, shareholder and ultimate beneficial owner, plus proof of address no older than three months.
- UBO declaration under the Bulgarian anti-money-laundering act, signed in front of the bank officer or notarised.
- A short business description: what you sell, to whom, in which countries, expected monthly turnover and typical transaction size.
- Evidence of activity where you have it: signed client contracts, invoices, a website, or the previous company's accounts.
- Tax residency self-certification for CRS and FATCA, including your US status if you hold a US passport or green card.
Why applications get refused
- No demonstrable link to Bulgaria: no local clients, no office, no staff and no Bulgarian-resident manager makes the file harder, not impossible. A clear commercial reason for the entity fixes most of it.
- Crypto, gambling, adult, arms or unlicensed financial activity in the stated business description. Say it up front; a discovered omission ends the relationship.
- Ownership through offshore layers with no explanation. Banks want to see the natural person at the top of the chain.
- Sanctions or high-risk residency exposure for any owner, which triggers enhanced due diligence rather than an automatic refusal.
- Incomplete or expired register documents. A certificate a day too old restarts the appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-resident open a Bulgarian business bank account remotely?
Bulgarian banks require the manager to appear in person, or to grant a notarised and apostilled power of attorney to a local representative. Fully remote opening is realistic only with an e-money institution such as Wise or Revolut, which is not a substitute for the capital deposit account.
How much does a Bulgarian business account cost per month?
Expect BGN 10-35 a month in maintenance, plus BGN 0.50-3 per outgoing SEPA transfer and around 0.2-0.5% on currency conversion. Cash handling and non-EUR wires cost noticeably more.
Do I need a Bulgarian bank account at all if I use Wise?
You need a Bulgarian account to deposit the share capital at incorporation. After that a company can operate through an EMI, but tax authorities, some clients and most landlords still expect a local IBAN, and the accountant's reconciliation is simpler with one.
How long does it take to open the account?
Typically 3-10 working days after the appointment for EU-resident owners, and two to four weeks where enhanced due diligence applies. The capital accumulation account itself is usually opened the same day.
Is the Bulgarian lev still used after the euro changeover?
Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 with a fixed conversion rate of 1.95583 lev to the euro. Banks report in euro, but many published fee schedules and statutory thresholds are still quoted in lev, which is why both appear on this page.
Are deposits protected?
Yes. Deposits with Bulgarian licensed banks are covered by the Bulgarian Deposit Insurance Fund up to EUR 100,000 per depositor per bank. Money held with an e-money institution is safeguarded, not deposit-insured, which is a meaningful difference.
Want the bank appointment arranged for you?
We prepare the document pack, pre-clear your profile with a bank that accepts your ownership structure, and book the appointment around your travel dates.
Related references
- Bank account for non-residents - the longer walkthrough with paperwork templates.
- Wise vs Revolut for a Bulgarian company - when an EMI is enough and when it is not.
- Bookkeeping and accounting fees - the monthly cost that follows once the account is live.
- Formation timeline 2026 - where the capital deposit sits in the registration sequence.
- Company formation cost - full one-off budget including bank charges.