Bulbank successfully ended the EMV certification process and now processes chip-cards in the network of ATMs in the country. Up to now more than half of the total ATM-network is upgraded, mainly in the bigger cities and the seaside resorts. Daily more than 100 chip-card transactions are processed expecting the number to increase with the summer season.

Bulbank is one of the first European banks migrating successfully to the new messaging standard that MasterCard implemented last year – IPM (integrated product messaging). The standard was adopted after a decision of MasterCard to unify its operations in Europe and North America. The IPM standard is now a mandatory for bank as prerequisite to upgrade to EMV chip-based cards.

Currently Bulbank ends the certification process for issuing chip-cards. In this way the Bank will become the first Bulgarian financial institution not only to process, but to issue next generation cards.

The chip in the card apart from identification of the user and increased security of the transactions could be used for additional commercial initiatives like loyalty programmes and others. The Bank will offer its cardholders competitive conditions for issuing and maintenance of chip-cards with additional functionality