Biggest banks of Belgium 2019, based on number of branches
Which banks are the largest in Belgium? In 2019, BNP Paribas Fortis topped a ranking that measured the total number of bank branches. The Belgian daughter of France-based BNP Paribas had over 700 bank branches in the country. KBC and Belfius completed the top three, each bank having over 650 locations. The high number of bank offices is a particular trait of banking in Belgium, as this number of local branches in Belgium was higher than in Luxembourg and the Netherlands combined. Each Belgian local bank branch served approximately 3,400 people in 2016.
Banking = franchising
Many banking offices in Belgium are managed by franchisees and are not directly on the payroll of the bank itself. Consequently, the decrease of bank branches that can be seen in most European countries happens at a slower rate. Two thirds of all bank offices in the country could be found in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium). In 2017, the Brussels Capital Region (the city of Brussels and its surrounding villages) had roughly 380 bank branches, whereas Wallonia (Belgium’s southern, French-speaking region) had around 1,500.
Online banking is catching up?
In 2017, there were approximately 12.1 million internet banking subscriptions in Belgium, the highest number reached since 2006. Note, however, that one consumer can have multiple online accounts at various banks. The exact number of online banking users in Belgium and its development over time is therefore difficult to measure.
Banking = franchising
Many banking offices in Belgium are managed by franchisees and are not directly on the payroll of the bank itself. Consequently, the decrease of bank branches that can be seen in most European countries happens at a slower rate. Two thirds of all bank offices in the country could be found in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium). In 2017, the Brussels Capital Region (the city of Brussels and its surrounding villages) had roughly 380 bank branches, whereas Wallonia (Belgium’s southern, French-speaking region) had around 1,500.
Online banking is catching up?
In 2017, there were approximately 12.1 million internet banking subscriptions in Belgium, the highest number reached since 2006. Note, however, that one consumer can have multiple online accounts at various banks. The exact number of online banking users in Belgium and its development over time is therefore difficult to measure.
