Bulgarian central bank cash desks to work overtime because of high demand for euro coin starter packs
Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) cash desks are to work overtime with customers on December 13 and 20 because of the process of euro adoption and high demand for euro coin starter kits, BNB said on its website.
The December 10 statement came as Bulgaria is set to use the euro as its currency as of January 1 2026.
BNB said that its cash desks in its central Sofia headquarters will sell starter kits with euro coins to individuals.
The cash desk in Sofia at 10 Mihail Tenev Street will sell starter kits with euro coins to individuals and will exchange coins and banknotes in leva. The working hours of the BNB cash desks will be open continuously on the two Saturdays from 8.30am to 3.45pm.
The starter kits with the new euro coins, which have Bulgarian symbols on one side, were put on sale from December 1.
Interest has been considerable, results in queues in front of the BNB HQ and at commercial banks. A few days later they were also put on sale in post offices. However, in many places they ran out of stock in the first few hours.
The starter pack contains 42 coins of all denominations – from 1 euro cent to 2 euro, and is worth 20 leva. The purpose of the pre-sale of the set of coins is for the public to become familiar with them before January 1.
After January 1, for six months, banks and post offices will exchange leva for the new currency at the fixed rate of 1.95583 leva for one euro without additional fees.
On December 5, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov and BNB governor Dimitar Radev carried out an inspection of the bank’s mint, where 24-hour production has been introduced, according to a government information service statement.
The statement said that the 24-hour production process guarantees the quality of the coins and sufficient quantities.
“We are completely ready. With the euro coins minted in our country, it will be possible to pay anywhere in Europe, and with the European ones, in our country,” Zhelyazkov said.
“This is an important step towards the successful economic and social development of our country,” he said.
Radev said that the preparation of the banking sector and the Coin Centre for the introduction of the euro is proceeding according to plan.
“The Coin Centre is operating at full capacity, sufficient quantities of euro coins have been provided. There will be enough coins – both in the initial package and subsequently. There is no room for concern,” Radev said.
(Photo: government.bg)
For reliable official information on Bulgaria’s transition to the euro, the Association of Banks in Bulgaria has a Q and A, in English.
The official evroto.bg website has an English-language version, while the European Commission made available on July 8 a Q and A on Bulgaria’s changeover to the euro.
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