Impossible to open a bank account? page 2 - Bulgaria forum

Chrisjo1 · 2022-07-17T12:40:01+02:00

Came to Sofia a couple months ago and got a residence permit and am employed here. Went to UBB and Fibank. Filled the form for the pre application and KYC. Weeks have passed since and when I ask there still "additional checks" pending. Anyone else have this problem or recently successfully open a bank account? If so, which bank did you use?

Impossible to open a bank account?

vessela47 New member

Member since 03 November 2022

vessela47New member14 November 2024 14:47:42

#41

Hello everybody,

The procedure is as follows:

1, Apply for opening a special account - it is difficult, but not impossible. For non-EU citizens I recommend BACB (recently successfully opened 5 company's account - the bank fee for revising the applications is only 40 EUR)

2.Open a special account where the capital shall be transferred

3.Company incorporation

4.Buy a property under the name of the company

5,Transforming the special account into ordinary bank account if you would like to do so.

P.S. It used to work with FIBank, TBI BAnk and UniCredit, but not any more.

Warm regards,

Vessela

RexTechGuy Active member

Member since 16 February 2024

RexTechGuyActive member08 December 2024 10:04:52

#42

We bought our apartment in Aheloy in July, and we came down to do some reno work, so I just dropped into Fibank in Nessebar and opened our acct there. All I needed was my SS (pension) statement, our notary deed, and my passport. Took 1 week for approval but it was no problem.

TonyFF Serial expat

Member since 04 October 2023

TonyFFSerial expat03 January 2025 06:49:41

#43

245

Happy new Year to all expats here!

I have a question that I believe nobody has asked before.

Can a Bulgarian wife add her foreign husband to her bank account without any ado?

(provided the聽 marriage was legalized in the country)

And will this satisfy聽 one of聽 the requirements for permanent residency?

JimJ ViP

Member since 07 December 2015

JimJViP03 January 2025 08:46:45

#44

1014

Yes, a BG citizen can add a foreigner to their account; they need to create a POA and register it with the bank. They can even be the sole holder of an account - I did mine so long ago that I can't recall the process but it's with DSK.

It won't have any effect on Permanent Residence entitlement, though

walkerp2 New member

Member since 03 January 2025

walkerp2New member03 January 2025 13:32:26

#45

@Chrisjo1

Hi could you just use starling bank as it's free withdrawals

Paul

janemulberry ViP

Member since 23 January 2021

janemulberryViP03 January 2025 15:38:22

#46

1652

Paul, I don't think Starling Bank would be any help for getting permanent residency, though of course, like Wise and Revolut, it can be used without any problem in Bulgaria. The residency rules require a Bulgarian bank account, which unfortunately can be difficult to get without already having residency!