Opening a Bulgarian business bank account as a non-resident

Opening a Bulgarian corporate bank account is the single most variable step in the registration process. Some clients are banked in a week. A few wait a month. Here's what actually drives the outcome.

The two paths

1. Local Bulgarian bank (UniCredit Bulbank, DSK, Postbank, Raiffeisen, Bulbank)
2. Neo-bank (Wise Business, Revolut Business)

Most of our clients end up with one of each — a local bank for BGN-denominated payroll and government payments, and a neo-bank for fast multi-currency operations.

What every Bulgarian bank will require

• Company registration documents (UIC, Articles, Commercial Register extract)
• Passport of the director and every UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner)
• Proof of business activity (contracts, invoices, website)
• Proof of address for the director
• Source of funds declaration
• The director's physical presence (in person at a branch, or video KYC depending on the bank)

The "in-person director presence" requirement is the single biggest friction point for non-residents.

Foreign-friendly local banks

UniCredit Bulbank — the most experienced with non-resident foreign founders. English-speaking corporate desk in Sofia and Varna. Video KYC available for EU residents in many cases. Account typically live within 10–14 days.

DSK Bank — large branch network, slower with non-residents but very stable once opened. Better fit for established companies.

Postbank (Eurobank) — solid mid-tier option, English-speaking corporate desk in Sofia.

Bulgarian Development Bank and the smaller domestic banks are generally not realistic for non-residents.

Neo-bank options

Wise Business — usually live within 3 business days once the company is registered. Multi-currency (EUR, GBP, USD, BGN), great for international invoicing. No physical presence required, but the director still needs to KYC.

Revolut Business — similar setup time. Good UX, full EUR/USD/GBP IBANs, debit cards.

ING Wholesale / BNP Paribas Fortis cross-border — niche, only for clients already banked with the parent.

The realistic timeline

Bank type	Typical setup	Best case	Worst case
Wise Business	3 business days	24 hours	1 week
Revolut Business	5 business days	2 days	2 weeks
UniCredit Bulbank	10–14 days	1 week	4 weeks
DSK Bank	2–4 weeks	10 days	6 weeks

These are wall-clock times after the company is registered. Add the 3–7 days for the company registration itself.

How we make it faster

• Pre-screen the file. We submit the full corporate documentation pack to the bank's compliance team before you even apply — most rejections happen in the first review.
• Match the bank to the profile. A solo SaaS founder goes to Wise + UniCredit. A 7-figure e-commerce operator goes to UniCredit + Postbank. A high-volume crypto-adjacent business is a different conversation entirely.
• Prep the source-of-funds declaration. A clean, well-documented SoF letter cuts approval time in half.
• Coordinate with the director on KYC. Video KYC slots fill up — we book them ahead.

Common mistakes

• Treating the bank account as automatic. It isn't. Banks reserve the right to refuse, even after registration.
• Generic "internet business" descriptions. Compliance teams reject these. Be specific: industry, customer profile, expected volume.
• Using a virtual office address from a known shell-company provider. Most Bulgarian banks have these on internal lists. We use commercially-leased addresses that pass screening.
• Sending the director only when the file is ready. Compliance can request additional documents during the meeting — bring everything.

What we don't do

We don't promise bank account opening. No serious advisor can — the bank holds the final decision. What we do is dramatically increase the probability and reduce the wait by getting the file right.

Next steps

• Step-by-step OOD registration — banking is step 9
• Wise vs Revolut for a Bulgarian company — picking the right neo-bank
• Pricing — banking included in Complete Setup and above
• Talk to us about your specific banking needs