The Bulgarian National Bank is one of the oldest national institutions established immediately after the rebuilding of the Bulgarian state on January 25, 1879, and the first bank operation was executed on 6 June of the same year.

The BNB is an independent emission institute of the state accountable to the National Assembly. It has a key role in the Bulgarian economy and takes care to maintain the sustainability of the Bulgarian currency, as well as to strengthen and develop the banking and credit system of the country.

The independence of the BNB is guaranteed by its Structural Law (BNB) and the Contract on the Functioning of the European Union. Since 1 January 2007, the Bank has been a full member of the European System of Central Banks and is actively involved in banking and financial decision making in the European Union. The Governor of the BNB is a member of the General Council of the European Central Bank.