A million Bulgarians already make and receive immediate transfers by mobile number
Immediate banking transfers under mobile number (BLINK P2P) are becoming increasingly preferred for Bulgarian users. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the translations made under a mobile number were 527 million for the sum of BGN 147 million, according to data from « National Card and Payment Scheme », part of Borika that develop the service. According to them, on an annual basis, this is an increase of more than 2 times in the number of translations and 3 times in volume.
The service practically connects the IBAN to a person with his telephone number and has come into force since the beginning of last year. The banks that provide the service are already seven, including all three largest, and registered users in the scheme exceed 1 million at 925,000 at the end of 2024.
This represents about a third of Bulgarians who use mobile banking (According to a study by Alfa Research, ordered by Borika, nearly 55% of adult Bulgarians use mobile banking, or just under 3 million – ed.)S
The activity of service consumption is expanding. The goal is to reach 70% of the banking population.
Stoilka ArsovaDirector of National Card and Payment Scheme «
The translations of up to 300 BGN are free of charge, with some banks setting a higher limit as promotional conditions.
Borika plans to continue the development of the service to continue outside the country as a mobile number to send money, for example, to Greek and Portuguese numbers by the end of the year. The efforts are related to the European initiative Europa, in which translations by mobile numbers are possible between Italy, Portugal and Spain, and it is planned to enter Poland and Greece. The horizon is for Bulgaria to become part of it by the end of the year, no matter the euro area decision.
The European Commission has scheduled a date for the convergent report on the euro
« I can translate my contact from Spain, Portugal, Greece, again without a fee and the translation to pass immediately, » Arsova explains.
Plans also include the opportunity next year with a mobile number only to shop in online stores, with the idea being through the scheme to reduce the cost of exchange for traders who pay for international schemes such as « visa » and « Mastercard », and for customers the process to facilitate without submitting bank data. The idea is to start with a contract with 1-2 large online stores early next year.
« I will enter the merchant’s website, enter my mobile number and receive an invitation to confirm my mobile banking with a code or biometric data, » the process Arsova explains.
Cash payments remain preferred in Bulgaria and nourish the gray economy
Parking
The new BLINK service service, which comes into force, is Blink Parking. In practice, through it services such as « blue » and « green » zone in Sofia and other cities can be paid through mobile banking. There are two banks part of the scheme so far, the other six, including the United Bulgarian Bank, are in a test period and are expected to join in June, and at the end of the year, UniCredit Bulbank and DSK Bank.
In 22 municipalities, public parking can now be paid, including in Sofia. In practice, this is an alternative to SMS payment, which is sometimes accompanied by a fee for the SMS itself, depending on the plan. The National Card and Payment Scheme is also planning a promotional campaign in the second half of 2025, within which they will cover 20% of each paid zone.
It is also planned to conclude contracts for private parking lots.
By geolocation, mobile banking will « know » in what area it is and will automatically choose it. Arsova described the service as « unique to Europe ».
