Belgian Major Banks: Batopin Adds 70 ATMs

Belgian Major Banking Alliance Batopin Plans 70 Additional ATM Locations

15 May 2025 at 19: 55

Reading time: 2 minutes

Batopin, the alliance of the four largest Belgian couches – BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC, Belfius and ING Belgium – for the management of ATMs, announces the planning of 70 additional Cash withdrawal points. This decision comes in response to the demands of the Belgian Competition Authority and brings the total number of planned ATMs to the same level as in 2019.

Originally, the plan was to have a total of 2025 ATMs in 2.510 locations under the Bancontact Cash brand by 970. However, the alliance has now decided to increase the number of pick-up points by 2026 by 70, bringing the total to 1.040 locations. This expansion will ensure that more than 95 percent of the Belgian population has an ATM within a radius of 5 kilometers from where they live.

Response to the Competition Authority

This expansion is a response to an investigation launched two years ago by the Belgian Competition Authority. The authority was concerned about the accessibility of the network and the waiting times for cash withdrawals. The investigation was aimed at determining whether customers were being served as well as when the four major banks managed their own networks.

Despite an earlier agreement between Belgian banks and the federal government to install and better distribute more devices, authorities found that customers had to travel a greater distance on average to an ATM than before Batopin was created.

Financial considerations and follow-up plans

Batopin has invested 190 million euros in the network rollout euro reserved, almost double the amount originally budgeted. In addition, the group incurred significant costs for the installation of the ATMs.

Batopin CEO Jeroen Ghysel confirms that the extensive plan is driving the group to extra costs. A budget of 150 million euros was budgeted for the cash network that was agreed in the protocol with the federal government. That has now been increased to 190 million euros.

In its final report, the Competition Authority described Batopin's decision as "proportionate and sufficient" and dropped its investigation into the alliance.

Questions & Answers

What is Batopin?
Batopin is an alliance of the four largest Belgian banks – BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC, Belfius and ING Belgium – responsible for managing ATMs.

What are Batopin's plans for the coming years?
Batopin plans to increase the number of Cash pick-up points by 2026 by 70, bringing the total to 1.040 locations. With this, the alliance ensures that more than 95% of the Belgian population has an ATM within a radius of 5 kilometers from their home.

Why did Batopin decide to install more machines?
This expansion is a response to an investigation by the Belgian Competition Authority. The investigation was aimed at determining whether customers were being served as well as when the four major banks were managing their own networks. Batopin is responding to concerns about the accessibility of the network and the waiting times for cash withdrawals.

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