Hundreds more 'neutral' cash machines promised

Belgium's four biggest retail banks have pledged to install more than 300 new cash dispensers around the country by 2027, particularly in big cities including Liège, Brussels and Antwerp.

The action comes following studies that show many Belgian residents do not have easy access to cash – a form of payment especially preferred by the elderly, undocumented migrants and other vulnerable demographics.

In just five years, the number of cash dispensers has more than halved.

Following an investigation by the Belgian Competition Authority, banks grouped under the Batopin label - Belfius, BNP Paribas Fortis, ING and KBC - have agreed to open new cash dispensing points – "neutral" ones that will be available to people without a fee, regardless of where they bank.

“In this way, we guarantee that more than 95% of consumers will find a cashpoint within 5km of their place of residence, a commitment that has already been promised until at least 2030,” said Jeroen Ghysel, chief executive of Batopin.

Using a map of existing cash withdrawal points, the group has identified "cash deserts" to target. One such cash desert is Mont-Saint-Guibert, a municipality of 8,000 inhabitants with zero withdrawal points.

This installation of 150 new machines is combined with a commitment previously made by Batopin, which had not been fulfilled at the beginning of 2025, to increase the number of sites by more than 200. This will ultimately mean an increase of about 40% in the current number of sites.

These new machines will be located partly in the major cities, including Liège, Namur, Charleroi, Antwerp and Ghent. Thirteen sites will be opened in Brussels.

Accessibility outside the cities will likewise be taken into consideration, with the addition of distributors in 14 municipalities and 25 additional neighbourhoods.

Batopin's commitment to open extra additional cash dispensing machines - on top of the 750 sites initially planned - follows an agreement reached between the sector and the government in March 2023, which will now become legally binding.

The four banks have committed to “restoring ATM accessibility for consumers to 2019 levels, in a context of a sharp decline in the number of cash transactions”, added Ghysel.

The goal is to have more than 1,000 neutral cashpoints operational within two years.