On June 30, 2026, the six-month window for free conversion of levs into euros through commercial banks officially ended, marking a key phase in Bulgaria’s currency transition process.
According to data released by the Bulgarian National Bank, a total of 29.4 billion leva had been exchanged into euros by the end of the period. This represents 94.48% of all lev banknotes and coins that were in circulation at the start of 2025. At the same time, around 1.7 billion leva in cash remains outside the central bank’s vaults.
The BNB emphasized that the transition proceeded in an orderly manner, without disruptions for citizens, businesses, or the financial system. The exchange process was described as smooth and fully compliant with the established regulatory framework.
As of the end of June 2026, euro cash in circulation reached 8.8 billion euros (net issue), which the central bank says is sufficient to ensure normal cash operations and support economic activity across the country.
Following the expiration of the six-month free-exchange period, commercial banks are now allowed to introduce fees for converting levs into euros. These fees must be reported to the central bank, although the Bulgarian National Bank does not have the authority to regulate or block the pricing decisions of individual banks.
