Statistics indicate that the number of debit and credit cards that have been issued by Bulgarian banks so far has reached 4 million.

According to most recent data, the number of debit and credit transactions hit 102.8 million in 2007, totalling BGN 8.96 billion (EUR 4.58 billion), with an average of 281.6 thousand card payments or withdrawals per day. Data also indicate that within the same period BGN 7.14 billion (EUR 3.65 billion) were withdrawn from ATMs, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the total card transactions.

In order to boost the use of non-cash payment methods, banks have adopted some 'tricks'. When a criminal act occurs via a bankcard, banks give back only sums over BGN 300 (EUR 153.24). In the case of bonus cards yielded by financial products, clients must pay for annual service fees, no matter if they use them or not.

Data have been provided by Bulgarian National Bank.