The bank system in Bulgaria is supervised by the National Bank of Bulgaria, which functions as a central bank. The NBB is an independent national institution subordinate to National Assembly, which elects the NBB president. The National Bank of Bulgaria was founded in 1879. Sustaining the stability of national currency, the Bulgarian lev, through introduction of suitable policies and efficient payment system, is the main target of the bank. After the introduction of the currency board system on July 1, 1997 the number of monetary policy instruments of the NBB has significantly decreased. The exchange rate is fixed by law and is 1.95583 BGN per 1 EURO. 
There are 34 commercial banks in Bulgaria. The value of assets of the bank sector amounted to about 32.7% billion BGN [16.7 billion EURO] at the end of February 2006 – it is a 30% growth in comparison to the same time the previous year.
The process of privatization of the bank system has been almost completed. The last large national bank – the DSK Bank – was privatized in 2004. Foreign capital is of great significance in the bank system. The banks with foreign investment domination have the participation of almost 85% in the general value of assets value of the bank system.

The insurance system system is supervised by the Financial Supervision Board. The Board also supervises the institutions of the capital market, investment and pension funds. There are over 30 insurance companies in the Bulgarian insurance market in the non-pension sector – 18 agencies operate in the field of property insurance and 11 in the field of life insurance.
The property insurance market has quickly developed. ZPAD DZI, Bulstrad, Allianz and Orel are the largest companies.
The sector of life insurance is still underdeveloped. It reflects in the value of premiums collected by the insurance companies operating on this market. The situation is a result of low incomes of the citizens – the money generally goes for basic consumer goods. 

The Stock Exchange – was founded in 1907 with passing the Act on Stock Exchange. This Act regulates the stock market and commodity exchange. The stock exchange was also active in the interwar period. The legal regulations making the foundation of the existing stock market in Bulgaria were established in 1991. 
The meaning of the stock exchange comes into prominence. Its capitalization amounted to 2.4 billion BGN at the end of March, 2006. The current reform of the pension system, increase of debt issue by the government covered with instruments generated in the national financial system, introduction of new regulations increasing the transparency of finances of quoted enterprises [like the introduction of the international accountancy standards], the emergence of new private companies, and the increase of the number of large privatization transactions made through the stock exchange are the most important factors of the growth of significance of the stock exchange in Bulgaria. 
BSE (Bulgarian Stock Exchange) is presented its work on foreign market. There was in November 2008 jointly organized meeting with Deutsche Borse and BSE-Sofia called a “Day of Bulgaria” panel within the German Equity Forum, held in Frankfurt on 10th and 11th September. That was the first road show of the Bulgarian business abroad and representatives from leading Bulgarian public companies carries out presentations. In September 2008, BSE-Sofia organized the international conference entitled "The Prospects for capital markets in Southeast Europe" in Sofia on 16th Sept. The representatives on this conference was from the European Commission and the Federation of European Securities Exchanges. The main topics discussed were the challenges for the exchanges in Southeastern Europe in the conditions of globalizing capital markets; opportunities for attracting more investors, and the benefits of market consolidation in Southeastern Europe.