United Bulgarian Bank

What United Bulgarian Bank does

United Bulgarian Bank (Обединена българска банка, UBB) is a Sofia-headquartered universal bank founded in 1992 and wholly owned by Belgian banking-insurance conglomerate KBC Group NV, operating exclusively in Bulgaria across all 28 regions. The bank serves individual retail customers (teen, youth, student, professional, and pensioner segments), SMEs and corporates (segmented at a BGN 2M annual turnover threshold), agricultural producers, and private banking clients, with revenue generated from interest income on lending, fee and commission income, investment product distribution, and bancassurance. UBB's product architecture combines core banking services (current accounts, debit/credit cards, mortgage and consumer loans) with a digital platform layer — UBB Online (web), UBB Mobile (iOS, Android, Huawei AppGallery), a PSD2-compliant API Developer Portal, and a 24/7 Bulgarian-language digital assistant named Kate — supported by physical branches and ATMs.

Underlying distribution and product breadth is unusually wide for a mid-sized European bank: UBB distributes KBC Group's Horizon KBC master funds through its own ОББ ЕкспертИйз feeder funds, thematic KBC Responsible Investing funds (We Shape, We House, We Like, We Live, We Care, We Digitize), and structured products (e.g., a 3-year 100% capital-protected Space Economy note tracking the SOLACTIVE Space Ecosystem Index VT). The KBC Group ecosystem in Bulgaria also includes wholly-owned subsidiaries DZI (insurance), UBB Interlease (leasing), UBB Pensions, UBB Asset Management, UBB Insurance Broker, and UBB Estates (real estate sales), enabling cross-sell across banking, insurance, leasing, and pensions from a single customer relationship. Following KBC Group's 2022 acquisition of Raiffeisen Bank Bulgaria for over €1B and the April 2023 legal merger of KBC Bank Bulgaria into UBB, the bank is the largest in Bulgaria by market share for two consecutive years (2025-2026) and holds the highest Fitch bank credit rating (A) in the country. The bank earns fee revenue through account package subscriptions, card interchange, and payment processing, and generates interest revenue through mortgages (example: 3.08% APR EUR), consumer loans, and business credit facilities.

Name

United Bulgarian Bank

Legal name

Обединена българска банка АД

Website

https://ubb.bg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

United Bulgarian Bank (UBB) is a Sofia-headquartered universal bank, wholly owned by Belgium's KBC Group, serving Bulgarian retail, SME, corporate, agricultural, and private banking clients. It operates branches in all 28 Bulgarian regions alongside UBB Online, UBB Mobile, a PSD2 API portal, and a KBC Group ecosystem spanning insurance, leasing, pensions, and asset management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Loan Operations & Servicing (Consumer/SME/Corporate) (FSABALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Deposit Operations (Account Maintenance, Fees, Reconciliations) (FSABALAE), Bank Connectivity & Channels (Host-to-host, SWIFT, APIs, EB portals) (FSABAIAF)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Corporate banking
• Mortgage lending
• Investment funds
• Digital banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Sofia

HQ country

Bulgaria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Traditional banking revenue from lending activities including mortgage loans, consumer loans, and business credit facilities
2. Fee and Commission Income: Fees from account management, card transactions, payment processing, and other banking services
3. Investment Product Distribution: Distribution of mutual funds, structured products, and investment insurance programs through the branch network
4. Insurance Distribution: Bancassurance offerings including property, life, travel, and motor insurance products
5. Digital Banking Services: Online and mobile banking platform services including digital account opening and credit applications

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

United Bulgarian Bank (UBB) provides a comprehensive suite of banking products and services in Bulgaria, including current and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, mortgage and consumer loans, mutual funds and structured investment products, insurance distribution, private banking, and business banking services such as lending, cash management, trade finance, factoring, and POS terminals. The bank serves individual retail customers, SMEs, larger corporates, agricultural producers, and high-net-worth clients through a branch network covering all 28 regions of Bulgaria, complemented by UBB Online, UBB Mobile, and a PSD2-compliant API developer portal.

Product overview

United Bulgarian Bank (ОББ) operates as a universal bank offering a comprehensive platform of banking products and services for individual and business clients. The product architecture follows a platform-plus-modules model with core banking services (accounts, cards, loans) supported by digital channels (ОББ Онлайн, ОББ Мобайл) and complemented by investment products (ОББ ЕкспертИйз mutual funds, KBC responsible investing funds, structured products), insurance offerings (standalone and bundled), and a PSD2 API developer portal. Individual services include debit/credit cards (Visa, Mastercard), current and savings accounts, mortgage and consumer loans, investment products including thematic funds (Space Economy, water, ESG themes), insurance, private banking, and digital wallets (Google Pay, Apple Pay). Business services encompass lending, cash management, trade finance, POS terminals, factoring, and brokerage. The bank is part of KBC Group, which also includes DZI insurance, UBB Interlease, UBB Pensions, UBB Asset Management, and UBB Insurance Broker.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ОББ Мобайл (UBB Mobile): Specialized mobile banking application for Android and iOS devices
• ОББ Онлайн (UBB Online)
• Кейт (Kate)
• ИнРесто (InResto)
• SurfStudio

Products and services

• UBB Online (ОББ Онлайн) Internet banking platform enabling customers to manage accounts, conduct transactions, pay bills, transfer funds, and access financial services via web browser.
• UBB Mobile (ОББ Мобайл) Mobile banking application for Android, iOS, and Huawei devices providing full banking functionality including account management, transfers, payments, and digital assistant Kate support 24/7.
• Debit and Credit Cards Range of debit cards (Visa Classic, Mastercard Standard, children/youth cards with parental controls) and credit cards (Visa Classic, Visa Gold, Visa Platinum, Mastercard Standard, Mastercard Gold Premium, CARD Fix) with contactless payment functionality.
• Current Accounts and Account Packages Transaction accounts including Activity, Privilege, Standard, and Basic Operations accounts, bundled into demographic-targeted packages: Plan Teen, Plan Youth/Students, Plan Smart, Plan Smart+, and Plan For Retirement.
• Mortgage Loans Real estate loans for property purchase, refinancing, current needs, and energy-efficient homes, available with fixed or variable interest rates and online pre-approval (e.g., 3.08% APR example for EUR loan).
• Consumer Loans Personal loans including standard consumer loans, bundled package loans, Golden Age loans for seniors, consolidated loans, overdrafts, and student loans with state financial support.
• Savings Deposits Range of savings products including Deposit Invest, standard time deposits, On-Deposit, and Open Savings accounts.
• ОББ ЕкспертИйз Mutual Funds Umbrella mutual fund with multiple sub-funds investing in Horizon KBC master funds, offering defensive, balanced, dynamic, and highly dynamic risk profiles; available in BGN and EUR-denominated share classes.
• KBC Responsible Investing Funds Thematic equity funds distributed through UBB covering ESG/sustainability themes including water, real estate, technology, and broader responsible investing mandates (KBC Eco Fund Water, We Shape, We House, We Like, We Live, We Care, We Digitize).
• Space Economy and Technologies Program Three-year structured product issued by KBC IFIMA with 100% capital protection, linked to SOLACTIVE Space Ecosystem Index VT, offering 63% participation in space sector index performance with minimum EUR 1,000 investment.
• InResto Systematic Investment Plan Systematic investment plan that turns everyday card purchases into investments through automatic rounding-up and allocation to investment products.
• Investment-Life Insurance Programs (ЕвроБъдеще / ЕвроИнвест) Combined investment and life insurance products offering life protection with investment return potential.
• Insurance Products (Casco, Travel, Civil Liability, Health, Home, Property) General insurance offerings distributed through the bank, including auto (Casco), travel, civil liability, health (via DZI), home, and property insurance, available as standalone or bundled with banking products.
• Private Banking Premium banking services for high-net-worth individuals offering personalized financial advisory, exclusive products, wealth management, and investment advisory.
• Business Banking Services Comprehensive banking services for companies including credit facilities, cash management, trade finance, and POS terminal solutions, segmented by annual turnover thresholds (up to and over BGN 2 million).
• Agricultural Producer Banking Specialized banking services for farmers and agricultural producers, including lending and trade finance, segmented by annual turnover thresholds up to and over BGN 2 million.
• Factoring and Brokerage Services Trade finance service providing accounts receivable management and financing for businesses with annual turnover over BGN 2 million, plus securities trading, foreign exchange, government securities, and broker services for advanced investors.
• PSD2 API Developer Portal Open banking API products compliant with PSD2 regulation, enabling third-party developers to build applications for account information access (AIS), payment initiation (PIS), confirmation of funds (COFS), and consent management.
• UBB Estates Real Estate Sales Platform Online platform for selling bank-owned properties including residential, commercial, and industrial real estate, machinery, equipment, and vehicles.
• Digital Wallets (Google Pay, Apple Pay) Mobile payment solutions enabling contactless payments via smartphone for card transactions, available for Android (Google Pay) and iOS (Apple Pay) devices.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• KBC GroupcoreOthers · 1 January 2022KBC Group is the Belgian parent company of United Bulgarian Bank. UBB operates as part of the KBC Group ecosystem in Bulgaria, offering products and services leveraging KBC's banking-insurance expertise and product portfolio.
• KBC Asset Management NVcoreTechnology or IntegrationKBC Asset Management NV manages the master funds (Horizon KBC) that UBB's feeder funds (OBБ ЕкспертИйз) invest in, providing professional portfolio management for UBB's investment products.
• DZI (General Insurance Company)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDZI is the insurance company within the KBC Group Bulgaria ecosystem. UBB distributes DZI insurance products including property, life, travel, and motor insurance through its branch network.
• Interlease (UBB Interlease)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeasing company within the KBC Bulgaria ecosystem offering vehicle, equipment, and real estate leasing. UBB provides distribution channel for Interlease products.
• UBB PensionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPension insurance company within UBB Group ecosystem offering mandatory and voluntary pension funds distributed through UBB branches.
• UBB Asset ManagementcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAsset management company managing UBB's mutual funds (ОББ ЕкспертИйз family) and responsible investment funds, distributed through UBB network.
• UBB Insurance BrokercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance brokerage company within UBB Group providing access to multiple insurance providers beyond DZI, distributed through UBB.
• KBC IFIMA S.A.majorTechnology or IntegrationKBC IFIMA S.A. is the issuer of structured investment products (like the Space Economy program) sold by UBB, with KBC Bank NV as guarantor.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DSK Bank (Bulgaria): DSK Bank, owned by Hungary's OTP Group, is one of Bulgaria's largest universal banks offering retail, SME, and corporate banking. It is UBB's closest direct competitor for Bulgarian market share, deposit base, and consumer lending volume.
• UniCredit Bulbank: UniCredit Bulbank is the Bulgarian subsidiary of UniCredit S.p.A. and a leading full-service bank competing head-to-head with UBB in retail deposits, mortgage lending, corporate banking, and wealth management across Bulgaria.
• Eurobank Bulgaria (Postbank): Eurobank Bulgaria, part of Greece's Eurobank Group, operates a nationwide universal bank platform with retail, corporate, and investment banking — directly competing with UBB across customer segments in Bulgaria.
• First Investment Bank (FIB): FIB is a Bulgarian universal bank offering retail deposits, consumer and mortgage lending, and corporate banking services, competing with UBB particularly in the SME and consumer credit segments.
• Central Cooperative Bank (CCB): Central Cooperative Bank is a Bulgarian universal bank serving retail and business clients nationwide, with similar product breadth in deposits, cards, and SME lending to UBB.

Others

• KBC Group NV: KBC Group NV is UBB's Belgian parent and a publicly listed bank-insurance conglomerate. Although not a direct competitor, KBC's strategy and product platform directly determine UBB's investment product roadmap, capital allocation, and access to KBC Asset Management funds.
• Raiffeisen Bank International: Raiffeisen Bank International divested its Bulgarian subsidiary to KBC Group in 2022 for over €1B, which was then merged into UBB. RBI operates similar CEE universal-banking franchises and is a structural benchmark for UBB's product strategy.

Regional players

• ProCredit Bank Bulgaria: ProCredit Bank Bulgaria is a subsidiary of Germany's ProCredit Group, focused on SME and business banking with a development-finance heritage. It competes with UBB for SME and agricultural producer clients in Bulgaria.

Broad incumbents

• OTP Bank (Hungary): OTP Bank is a Hungarian universal bank with a Central and Eastern European banking franchise including its Bulgarian subsidiary (DSK Bank). It provides strategic context for UBB's growth model and competitive dynamics across CEE.

Emerging players

• Société Générale Bulgaria (SG Expressbank): SG Expressbank, the Bulgarian subsidiary of France's Société Générale, offers retail and corporate banking services in Bulgaria and competes with UBB in deposits, lending, and payment services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ubbbg
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedBulgarianBank?fref=ts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-bulgarian-bank
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedbulgarianbank
• TikToktiktok.com/@ubb.bulgaria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Bulgarian Bank