Lev withdrawal continues as planned, but the process will slow down

84.5% of lev banknotes and coins that were in circulation at the beginning of 2025 have already been withdrawn, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) announced on its website. As of February 16, 2026, lev banknotes and coins in circulation total BGN 4.8 billion.

The process of withdrawing lev banknotes and coins and putting euro banknotes and coins into circulation is proceeding according to the approved operational plans, BNB notes. Euro banknotes and euro coins worth more than EUR 7.2 billion have been put into circulation, ensuring the normal functioning of the payment system and the economy.

• The euro is only currency, prices displayed in euro and leva until August

• One quarter of Bulgarians levs still in people, the euro -sole legal currency

As of February 6, 2026, the total value of euro banknotes and coins into circulation exceeded EUR 6.7 billion, while 81% of levs had been withdrawn.

Citizens can exchange lev banknotes and coins at commercial banks and branches of Bulgarian Posts until the end of 2026. Until July 1, this service will be free of charge. The exchange of levs at the Bulgarian National Bank will be carried out free of charge indefinitely.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov