Sofia-Fibank.

State-owned Bulgarian Development Bank will take a stake of up to 19% in First Investment Bank (Fibank), which is raising money to cover a capital shortfall found by the European Central Bank last year, the country’s finance minister said on Friday. Fibank’s capital increase is the last box Bulgaria has to tick before getting the nod to enter the European Union banking union and a two-year obligatory precursor to the eurozone. Sofia hopes to join both in July.