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.
SEPA Bank Transfer
As an EU member, Bulgaria participates in SEPA (using BGN for domestic transactions but EUR for cross-border SEPA transfers). Used primarily for B2B and higher-value consumer payments.
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.
PayPal
Used for international purchases and cross-border e-commerce. Growing presence particularly among younger and tech-savvy shoppers. Flow: User selects PayPal, a modal or redirect opens. User logs in, confirms funding source, reviews details, authorizes. Control returns to merchant with approved or declined status.
Mint / TrustPay
Regional alternative payment methods with presence in Bulgarian e-commerce. TrustPay offers bank-based payment solutions popular in Central and Eastern Europe.
Visa / Mastercard (Debit & Credit)
The dominant digital payment method. Debit cards are used by approximately 74% of Bulgarian online shoppers, credit cards by 38%. All major Bulgarian banks issue both Visa and Mastercard. Contactless penetration reached 16.1% mobile wallet usage in 2024.
Cash on Delivery (COD)
Approximately 40% of Bulgarian online orders are settled in cash at delivery. Particularly prevalent for fashion and electronics where consumers want to inspect goods before paying.
All payment methods in Bulgaria
Discover 7 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.
