Three days before the introduction of the euro, the queues in front of exchange offices in the country do not stop. For various reasons, people are in a hurry to exchange leva for euro, despite the unfavorable exchange rate. The exchange is carried out for 1.99 leva for one euro, and in some places it even reaches 2 leva.
In just a few days, "free" exchange of leva for euro will begin in the offices of banks and "Bulgarian Post". It will be at the official rate of 1.95583 leva per euro and without any fees until June 30, 2026. At the Bulgarian National Bank, this exchange will continue without a deadline - i.e. even after years, holders of amounts in leva will be able to exchange them at the central bank's office in Sofia at the fixed rate and without fees.
On the penultimate working day of 2025, queues formed in front of both bank offices and ATMs. A check by "Sega" showed that the majority of visitors to bank branches deposit leva amounts so that they can be automatically converted into euros on January 1.
Most bank branches in the country will not open their doors until January 5, and from December 31 to January 3, the banks' mobile and online applications will not be widely available due to their conversion to euros. This is also the reason why consumers want to visit bank counters now for final financial transaction orders.
Some prefer to do this through ATMs. Others withdraw leva to have cash available in the last days of this year and the first of 2026.