Central Cooperative Bank (, Centralna kooperativna banka), founded on 28 March 1991 is a universal commercial bank in Sofia, Bulgaria, belonging to the financial structure of CCB Group. It is listed on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. History On 28 March 1991 Central Cooperative Bank was registered with a resolution of the Sofia City Court. At first the Bulgarian National Bank Management Board issued a licence to CCB Plc for carrying out bank activity on the territory of the country. The founders of the bank were Central Cooperative Union, the regional cooperative unions and more than 1100 cooperative organisations. In the beginning its mission was to contribute to the development of the cooperative system in Bulgaria. Passing through different development periods, the Bank established itself as a universal commercial bank nowadays. Since 12 March 1993 ,the Bank is authorised to carry out operations abroad as well. Since July 1993 CCB Plc is an associate member of the European Association of Cooperative Banks, domiciled at Brussels. On 4 March 1999 CCB Plc received the statute of a publicly listed company, and in this way became one of the two Bulgarian banks, the shares of which were traded on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange - Sofia. Up to 2001 CCB Plc shareholders included: Central Cooperative Union, Bulbank AD, the State Agricultural Fund, the Bank Consolidation Company etc. At the beginning of 2002 the share of Bank Consolidation Company AD amounting to 32.77% was acquired through bidding by Chimimport JSC, which became the main shareholder of Central Cooperative Bank Plc. In 2002 CCB Plc received a licence from MasterCard Europe – a prestigious international card organisation for the issuance and acceptance of the international Maestro debit cards and MasterCard credit cards. In 2003 CCB Plc acquired a licence for a Bulgarian agent of Western Union, the international fast money transfer company. In September 2004 Central Cooperative Bank Plc became a member of the Management Board of the International Cooperative Banking Association, together with over 52 credit institutions from 36 countries. At the end of 2004 CCB Plc increased its capital from BGN 16 169 564 to BGN 32 338 128 via the issuance of 16 168 564 shares, having a par and issue value of BGN 1. The Bank’s main shareholder is CCB Group Assets Management EAD, which is 100% property of Chimimport Plc. On 27 May 2005 the Bank became a principal member of