Payment methods in Bulgaria
Debit cards are used by ~74% of online shoppers; credit cards by ~38% and digital wallets by ~27%
Market takeaways
- Debit cards are used by ~74% of online shoppers; credit cards by ~38% and digital wallets by ~27%
- ~40% of online commerce still settles in cash on delivery, a persistent legacy preference
- Mobile devices account for 77% of retail site traffic and 68% of online orders in 2024
- ePay.bg is the key local electronic payment system, in operation since 1999
- Bulgaria is an EU member using the Bulgarian Lev (BGN), not yet in the eurozone but targeting euro adoption
Population
6.5M
Online population
~5.2M (~80%)
B2C e-commerce
~$1.8B (2024 est.)
Banked population
~85%
Credit card population
~45%
E-commerce of total retail
~15%
Payment method breakdown
- Card45%
- Cash on Delivery38%
- E-Wallet12%
- Bank Transfer4%
- Other1%
Card scheme breakdown
- Visa50%
- Mastercard45%
- American Express2%
- Local Schemes2%
- Other1%
Cross-border e-commerce
Market data coming soon.
Featured payment methods in Bulgaria
Popular options based on coverage and prominence in this market.
PayPal
Global digital wallet and checkout provider with broad e-commerce coverage.
Bank Transfer (Internet & Mobile Banking)
Generic online and mobile bank-transfer methods (internet banking, e-banking, EFT and interbank transfers). Customers pay directly from their bank account via their bank's own online/mobile banking portal. Implementation and rails differ by country, but the consumer flow is a standard account-to-account bank transfer.
Visa
Visa is the world's largest card network, enabling credit, debit and prepaid card payments online, in-store and at ATMs across virtually every market. In the listed countries Visa is a core internationally accepted scheme alongside local methods.
Mastercard
Mastercard is a leading global card network supporting credit, debit and prepaid card payments online, in-store and at ATMs worldwide. In the listed countries it is a core internationally accepted scheme.
Mint / TrustPay
Regional alternative payment methods with presence in Bulgarian e-commerce. TrustPay offers bank-based payment solutions popular in Central and Eastern Europe.
ePay.bg
Bulgaria's primary local electronic payment system, launched in 1999 and operated by United Bulgarian Bank. Allows customers to pay using their bank accounts directly at e-commerce checkout. Widely integrated across Bulgarian online stores.
All payment methods in Bulgaria
Discover 10 payment methods from around the world
Featured banks in Bulgaria
Major institutions operating in this market.
UniCredit
Milan, Italy
UniCredit is a pan-European commercial bank headquartered in Milan with a strong presence in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Central & Eastern Europe, serving 15 million clients.
OTP Bank
Budapest, Hungary
OTP Bank is Hungary's largest bank and the dominant financial institution in the country, with significant regional presence across Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
KBC Group
Brussels, Belgium
KBC Group is a Belgian banking-insurance company with a strong presence in Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Ireland.
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI)
Vienna, Austria
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is Austria's second-largest bank and a leading retail and corporate bank in Central and Eastern Europe, operating in 13 markets.
National Bank of Greece (NBG)
Athens, Greece
National Bank of Greece (NBG) is Greece's oldest bank and one of the country's four systemic banks, providing retail, corporate, and investment banking.
Eurobank
Athens, Greece
Eurobank is one of Greece's four systemic banks, with operations in Bulgaria, Serbia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, and London, offering retail and corporate banking.
