Bank account

All banks. Foreigner security check.

Try UBB I opened an account with them in Kyustendil 1 year ago with no problems

After being rejected by UniCredit bulbank.

@Mark_92

Depends where you are from, you dont say if you have an EU passport to qualify for residency automatically for one. If you're from outside the EU, you cant just rock up and stay. That apart the enhanced security checks now will at the least require a permanent Bulgarian address supported by a notarised rental contract etc.

@Mark_92 leaving England I have got a friend losing Bulgaria he's told me to keep with a British bank account because I am moving to Bulgaria soon he said I don't need a Bulgarian bank account to loop there I have got a bank account what I can get my money from every country I get my money paid in from England and I can cash it in Bulgaria into their bank machine you don't need a Bulgarian bank account to live there

@Mark_92 you want to bank account what you can cash in any country all my friends live in Bulgaria and they don't have a Bulgarian bank they have banks what they can cash in any country if they felts

I should add i am an EU citizen (Dutch). The bank account that i have now is a Dutch one, it will restrict services and such once i become a resident in Bulgaria.

@an3895509 in the original posters case there is no need for a Bulgarian bank account if he is in employment but for retired D Visa applicants it is a requirement by Immigration to have a Bulgarian bank account.

@Mark_92 then why not use Revolut as now they are licensed in Bulgaria if its just for day to day banking ?

@Mark_92

They are a little strange.  Not aware that they are an commercial institution. However try dsk or ubb. That will be better.

@Mark_92 then why not use Revolut as now they are licensed in Bulgaria if its just for day to day banking ?
   
    -@grahamstark1

I went looking last time this was mentioned to find out if Revolut actually offered a Bulgarian bank account. Nowhere is it mentioned on their site. Do they provide a Bulgarian bank account number and sort code, the same way that Wise do with many currencies but sadly not Bulgarian?

I should add i am an EU citizen (Dutch). The bank account that i have now is a Dutch one, it will restrict services and such once i become a resident in Bulgaria.        -@Mark_92

Mark, I suspect that once you have a more permanent address and can provide a longer term rental contract or notary deeds for a property purchase opening a bank account should be easier. Hopefully that will be enough and marrying a Bulgarian won't be necessary!

It can feel like one is going around in circles with Bulgarian banks. For non-EU citizens it often seems we can't get residency without a bank account, and we can't get a bank account without residency.

@janemulberry

The UK Revolut is a Ltd company and has its own GB IBAN whilst any accounts opened in Europe on the "Bulgarian" app are owned by  Revolut UAB a Lithuanian company and as such are part of SEPA  as are Wise accounts which have Belgian IBAN.

@Mark_92

Undoubtedly banks are tightening up. But some banks/branches interpret the rules differently, so it's worth trying again elsewhere.

I'm guessing you're not actually a Bulgarian resident yet (you need a proof of address, and short-term lets don't count). EU Citizen Registration (= residence, and gets you a biometric ID card) is pretty easy. It needs proof of address (property deeds or long-term rental contract), proof of funds (credit card or bank statement with a few grand somewhere), proof of health insurance (cheap local policy or your NL EHIC).

If you have your residence permit (the card also serves as a proof of address) and your rental contract, I would be shocked if a bank still turned you down. Both of these are things "originating in Bulgaria". :-) You definitely don't need to get a job, or a company, or a wife.

Separately, Plovdiv is tip-top... great choice! :-)

As others have mentioned, maybe a local bank account isn't really that necessary anyway. You can look at N26 (digital bank), and Revolut/Wise (emoney accounts).

Hi all. 

Has anyone tried iCard?

I believe it's actually Bulgarian as well.

@janemulberry

Re a Bulgarian bank account for residency, have you tried being introduced by a person of good standing, eg an Advocate, this can make a world of difference.

@Mark_92 The neo bank (online only) daughter bank of Bulgarian Fibank, MyFi, might be an option. One can get an account with BG IBAN with them remotely, then must confirm residence within 3 months after, and a BG debit card is issued. With Revolut one gets a multicurrency GB IBAN only.

    @janemulberryThe UK Revolut is a Ltd company and has its own GB IBAN whilst any accounts opened in Europe on the "Bulgarian" app are owned by  Revolut UAB a Lithuanian company and as such are part of SEPA  as are Wise accounts which have Belgian IBAN.         -@grahamstark1

Thanks, Graham. That's what I thought. So that sounds like it's not actually a Bulgarian bank account, it's a balance in leva the same as I can have with Wise?

I wish Wise would work something out with a Bulgarian bank. They do provide an actual bank account with it's own account number and country-specific IBAN in a number of currencies (I have them in the UK, US, Australia, and Canada) but Bulgaria, no. Only a leva balance. I can use the card to withdraw money and make payments in leva, no problem. But it doesn't give me a bank account like it does in the other countries.

For Mark, the original poster, I agree that Revolut or Wise might work fine, as it sounds like you don't need an account that will receive payments in BGN or to satisfy residency requirements. Remote earnings could be paid into a EUR account and then transferred to a BGN balance for spending as needed. There will be fees involved with transferring money and withdrawing cash from an ATM, but probably less than a Bg bank will charge.

    Hi all. 
Has anyone tried iCard?
I believe it's actually Bulgarian as well.
   

    -@domgiannone

Unfortunately iCard looks great but residency is a requirement to get one.

    @janemulberry
Re a Bulgarian bank account for residency, have you tried being introduced by a person of good standing, eg an Advocate, this can make a world of difference.
   

    -@grahamstark1

I haven't tried yet, but next time I'm there I will ask my neighbour to come with me to her bank and help me apply. It's a small town, she knows everyone, and she's banked there forever. If I still get turned down with her vouching for me, then there really is a problem!

I also have the option of the very helpful admin person at the estate agent I purchased from helping me, for a fee.

@janemulberry

Good luck Jane, when I went through the D Visa process, UBB were great here in Vratsa but i guess now with the new security checks it can be a lot tougher.

@Mark_92 the inly way i know of is to get one through a business being opened.

have a look at a wise online account. they are in a lot if countries so possibly a plan b for you.

must admit ive herad of marrying for money, visa and title never to open a bank account 😂