Bulgarian Post branches in small settlements, where the exchange of levs into euros will be carried out free of charge in the first 6 months of 2026, need important repairs. The government has allocated nearly 10 million leva for technical preparation, and the contracts for the delivery of the machines have already been signed, BNT recalls.
The Ministry of Interior and Bulgarian Post announced that they are strengthening security measures, and in some regions the local authorities have started explanatory meetings with people to protect them from fraud. How the Plovdiv village of Katunitsa is preparing for the financial transformation and why the local post office will be important, especially for pensioners…
The post office in Katunitsa is among the busiest places on the days of pension payments. While someone receives their money, many people wait in the yard, on the bench in front of the entrance, and in the hall.
Tsvetelina Dimitrova: "A little renovation is needed, because the weather is warm now, but winter is very difficult. We are waiting here. At least to fence it off, so that people are dry."
Another challenge looms over the building.
Krassimir Yurukov – mayor of the village of Katunitsa: "The roof needs to be repaired, the post office pays rent. Above the building, which is the post office, above the floor, which is the post office, there are very expensive facilities and I wonder why for so many years, 14 already, they haven't made an effort to partially repair the roof."
The post office will be the only place in Katunitsa where leva will be exchanged for euros. The village hall and the Sadovo municipality are already preparing for this.
Krasimir Yurukov – mayor of the village of Katunitsa: "There will be a police presence, there will be a presence from the town hall, not only for Katunitsa, but for the entire municipality. The mayor of the municipality and I have talked to our fellow mayors, there will be order and we will not allow abuse, fraud with elderly people."
The residents of Katunitsa are not bothered by the change of money. They are ready to react to any attempt by someone to mislead them, just as they have had to do more than once when receiving calls from scammers.
Atanaska Georgieva: "Mom, I broke my leg. You should have been careful. - Would you give money to a person who would make you an offer from outside on the street? - No. I just squeeze the money under my arm and leave, if someone tries, it won't work. They'll eat the slipper…"
There is not a single successful phone scam in Katunitsa. But in the winter of 2022 there was an armed robbery, namely at the post office. However, the perpetrator was discovered within hours.
Tsvetelina Dimitrova: "He wasn't a bad guy, but maybe under the influence of some things, he did this thing."
The stolen money – a little over 3,000 leva, intended for paying pensions, was returned.
Krassimir Yurukov – Mayor of the village of Katunitsa: "They were not touched, and as one of your colleagues said "It is very worrying to have a hunting party chasing you". It is very worrying."
In order to keep the statistics of fraud and theft at zero even with the introduction of the euro, the mayor is organizing a meeting with the people of the village. They are also worried about the counterfeit euro banknotes discovered in Sofia.
Krassimir Yurukov – Mayor of the village of Katunitsa: "We will not allow fraud to occur. The so-called money changers, I think you saw the report on BNT and other television stations, we will not allow it here. I want you to be calm. We'll manage, we'll manage…"
According to preliminary estimates, between 200 and 300 residents of Katunitsa will exchange the so-called "money for rainy days" at the post office - saved between 1,000 and 5,000 leva. And if there is an attempt at fraud, they are ready to expose it themselves.
Slavka Valkanova: "A stranger will be recognized immediately."
BNT: Can someone lie to you?
Damyanka Dobreva: "No, it can't be done. I have a young person next to me, in ninth grade, just one thing bothers me and immediately calls me."
The elderly rely on their family and social contacts for everything related to the euro, but the village will take care of two residents with special needs personally.
Krasimir Yurukov – mayor of the village of Katunitsa: "These are people who have illnesses. I have made a decision for myself – I will accompany them to the post office, I will attend the exchange and what I have to do I will do."
In Katunitsa they believe that the transition to European money will not scare them.
Atanaska Merdzhanova: "So I invite you again, when the euro comes in, for your team to come, to film us and for the same people to ask us again how we went through this transition".