Dimitar Radev, governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, on getting the country through the pandemic and plans to adopt the euro in 2024.
Central & Eastern Europe
Latest articles from Bulgaria

Bulgaria's hopes lie in the eurozone
April 29, 2021Bulgaria is struggling with low wages and political uncertainty, but remains determined to join the eurozone by 2024.

M&A expected in Bulgaria's banking sector
April 29, 2021Bulgaria's banks look strong and stable as the country moves towards adopting the euro, but the sector still requires consolidation.

Top 100 central and eastern Europe EU banks ranking: Tier 1 capital ebbs as dollar strengthens
May 1, 2016Bulgarian lenders bucked the trend as Tier 1 capital contracted in most of central and eastern Europe, while Czech institutions retained their status as most profitable banks in the region.
Crisis in Greece: the credit impact on south-eastern Europe
July 13, 2015The turmoil in Greece is having an impact on financial markets throughout the eurozone, but this impact may be felt greater in its five neighbours where Greek banks have a particularly large presence: Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.
Austrian banks’ profits in CEE hit all-time low
May 22, 2015For years, Austrian lenders Erste Bank and Raiffeisen Bank have enjoyed strong profits at their central and eastern European operations, but with growth in these economies slowing, more recent results suggest that they may need to rethink their strategies in the region.

Top 100 CEE EU banks ranking: Poland and Czech Republic hold sway
April 30, 2015Central and eastern European banks in the EU faced a sluggish 2013, but Poland led the region in terms of growth and the Czech Republic in terms of returns. Baltic banks are also starting to rise to the challenge.

Bulgaria's outgoing finance minister rallies for reform
September 1, 2014Petar Chobanov spent little more than a year as Bulgaria's finance minister before the government resigned and he had to step down from his post. He describes the reforms that he started during his tenure and explains why it is important for the new government to continue this work.

Crisis leaves Bulgaria's banks in limbo
September 1, 2014Bulgaria’s recent banking crisis and the resignation of its government have left its financial sector in a state of limbo awaiting elections in October.

Tough road ahead for Bulgaria's banks
May 1, 2013The Bulgarian banking sector has not needed government assistance in the wake of the financial crisis, but its slow growth rates and high non-performing loans do not make an inspiring combination.