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Crelan maintained the largest branch network in Belgium with *** locations as of January 2025, followed by Belfius with *** branches and KBC/CBC with *** locations. While Belgium retains a significant physical banking presence, branch numbers have declined as digital banking adoption has grown substantially across all age groups since 2006.

Changing dynamics in banking assets

While branch numbers offer one perspective on bank prominence, asset holdings provide another crucial metric. As of 2023, BNP Paribas Fortis was the largest bank in Belgium in terms of assets, with assets worth approximately *** billion euros, closely followed by KBC with *** billion euros. The overall banking industry in Belgium has seen fluctuations in total assets, reaching *** trillion euros by the second quarter of 2024. 

Performance and stability indicators

Belgian banks have shown varying levels of financial health and stability. In terms of Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratios, a key measure of bank stability, Crelan led the pack in 2023 with an impressive percent, followed by Argenta Group at ** percent. Regarding profitability, KBC demonstrated the highest return on equity at ** percent in 2023, with Belfius close behind at **** percent. These metrics suggest that while some banks may be reducing their physical footprint, they are maintaining strong financial positions.