name and
backgroundFull name of the bank: Nationale Bank van België (Dutch) / Banque Nationale de Belgique (French)
Founded: Nationale Bank van België was foundedMay 5, 1850. As one of the important state institutions established after the independence of Belgium, it was established to unify the national monetary system and provide a stable financial environment for economic development.
Headquarters location: Brussels,
BelgiumShareholder Background: Nationale Bank van België has a special shareholding structure. While its primary functions and public mission give it the character of a central bank, it is not fully state-owned. Most of its capital is held by the Belgian government, but some of its shares are traded on Euronext Brussels, which means there are private shareholders. However, regardless of the background of the shareholders, Nationale Bank van België must remain independent in the performance of its public functions, in particular monetary policy functions, and strictly comply with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB).
core functions
ofNationale Bank van België include:
Monetary policy execution within the Eurosystem: As a member of the Eurosystem (consisting of the European Central Bank and the central banks of the eurozone countries), it participates in monetary policy decisions of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank and implements the monetary policy of the Eurosystem in Belgium, including open market operations, providing liquidity, as well as managing minimum reserves, etc.
Financial Stability: This is one of its core responsibilities. It carries out macroprudential supervision of financial institutions in Belgium, identifies and assesses systemic risks and takes measures to address them. It also acts as a lender of last resort, providing support to commercial banks when they face short-term liquidity difficulties to prevent the contagion of the financial crisis.
Banking supervision: In cooperation with the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA), microprudential supervision of banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions in Belgium is carried out to ensure that they comply with prudential rules and safeguard the soundness of the financial system.
Operation and modernization of payment systems: Operation and management of important payment systems in Belgium to ensure efficient and secure clearing and settlement of funds between financial institutions. It also actively promotes the modernization and innovation of payment systems.
Issuing currency: In the Eurozone, although euro banknotes are uniformly designed by the European Central Bank, they are jointly issued by the central banks of the eurozone countries. Nationale Bank van België is responsible for the management of the circulation of euro banknotes and the minting of coins in Belgium.
Acting as a bank for the government: Acting as a fiscal agent for the Belgian federal government, managing government accounts, issuing bonds for the government, and providing debt management services.
Collect and analyze economic and financial data: Collect, collate, analyze and publish important economic and financial statistics, including inflation, interest rates, GDP, employment data, balance of payments, etc., to provide a basis for policy formulation, market analysis and public understanding of economic conditions.
Economic Research and Forecasting: Conduct independent economic and financial research to provide theoretical support and empirical evidence for monetary policy formulation and financial stability analysis, and share research findings with the public and academia through publications.
Regulation and complianceAs
an integral part of a country's central bank and the euro system, Nationale Bank van België is itself a regulator and is subject to multiple laws and regulations at home and abroad.
The main functions and actions of Nationale Bank van België are strictly regulated by the Organic Law of the National Bank of Belgium, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the relevant regulations of the European Central Bank and the European Committee on Systemic Risk (ESRB)*. It reports on its activities to the Belgian Parliament and the European Central Bank.
Nationale Bank van België is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations and international best practices. As an institution with a high degree of transparency and accountability, it regularly publishes annual reports, financial statements, economic reports, etc., and discloses its operations. Among publicly available information, Nationale Bank van België maintains a good record of compliance and operates in accordance with its legal mandate and the objectives of maintaining financial stability.
digital service
experienceNationale Bank van België's digital services are mainly reflected in the construction and maintenance of the infrastructure of the financial system, as well as its ability to disseminate and analyze information.
Core functions: Its "digital services" are mainly embodied in:
operation and modernization of payment systems: operation and management of important payment systems in Belgium (e.g. TARGET2-NBB, as part of the pan-European payment system TARGET2), Ensure efficient and safe fund clearing and settlement between financial institutions.
Data Publishing & Analysis Platform: Provides rich economic and financial data (such as inflation rates, interest rates, GDP data, balance of payments, etc.) through its official website, as well as charts and analysis tools that are easily accessible and used by academics, analysts, and the public.
Research Publications: The official website offers a large number of research reports, working papers, policy statements, and speeches, reflecting the depth of its research in the field of economics and finance.
Internal operating systems: Use advanced IT systems to manage foreign exchange reserves, conduct open market operations, and conduct data collection and analysis for regulated institutions.
Technological innovation: Nationale Bank van België is open to technological innovation, actively exploring and applying new technologies:
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Research: As part of the Eurosystem, Nationale Bank van België actively participates in the European Central Bank's research and experimentation on the digital euro to explore its potential impact and technical feasibility.
Blockchain/Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT): Actively investigate the potential of DLT in financial market infrastructures (e.g., payment systems, securities settlement) to improve efficiency and security.
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Applications: Leverage big data and artificial intelligence tools to conduct deeper analysis and forecasting of macroeconomic data, improve the efficiency and accuracy of policy making, and use it for risk assessment.
FinTech Regulation & Research: Actively participate in and support fintech innovations while studying their impact on the stability of the financial system to ensure that innovation develops with controlled risk.
customer serviceNationale
Bank van België's "customer service" is primarily aimed at its regulated financial institutions, Belgian government departments at all levels, and international partners.
phone, email: Provide contact information for financial institutions, government departments, academia and media for business consultation and information acquisition.
Online Information & Publications: The official website is the main channel for publishing news, economic reports, research papers, statistics, and annual reports. Its regularly published information helps the public understand its policies and economic conditions.
Seminars & Conferences: Nationale Bank van België regularly organizes or participates in important economic and financial seminars at home and abroad, interacting with academics, policymakers and market participants, and is an important platform for knowledge exchange.
security
measuresNationale Bank van België As the central institution responsible for the country's financial stability, its security measures are crucial, covering the aspects of physical security, information security and financial stability.
physical security: Enforce extremely strict physical security controls over critical facilities such as vaults and data centers, including multiple access controls, surveillance systems, and armed guards.
Cybersecurity: Invest significant resources in building and maintaining a robust cybersecurity defense system to protect its IT systems, payment systems, and sensitive data from cyberattacks, data breaches, and fraud. This includes advanced firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption technology, and regular security audits.
Operational Risk Management: Establish strict internal control systems and operating procedures to prevent operational errors and internal fraud, and ensure the compliance and efficiency of business processes.
Financial Stability Maintenance: This is its primary security guarantee. Through effective macroprudential policies, the supervision of commercial banks and its role as lender of last resort, Nationale Bank van België strives to maintain the stability of the entire financial system, thereby indirectly guaranteeing the financial security of the public and the smooth functioning of the economy.
Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery: Develop a comprehensive business continuity plan and disaster recovery plan to ensure that its core functions and critical systems can be quickly restored and continue to operate in the event of any unexpected event (e.g., natural disaster, system failure).
Featured services and differentiationNationale
Bank van België As a national central bank in the Eurozone, its characteristics and differentiation lie in its unique position and functions as a national monetary authority, as well as its role in European integration:
components of the Eurosystem: As a key member of the Eurosystem, it participates in the formulation and implementation of the eurozone's unified monetary policy, which extends its functions beyond the purely national level to the economic and financial health of the eurozone as a whole.
Bilingual operation: As the central bank of the official bilingual (Dutch and French) country of Belgium, all its official communications and publications are published in these two languages, reflecting its national identity.
Community role in financial regulation: Under the framework of the European Banking Union, it works closely with the European Central Bank, the European Banking Authority and other institutions to maintain financial stability and regulatory coherence in the eurozone.
Historical Research and Archives Management: Nationale Bank van België has a wealth of historical archives and research resources, which are of great significance for the study and dissemination of the economic and financial history of its country. It also houses a museum that educates the public about money and finance.
Actively participate in international cooperation: As a member of international financial organizations such as the G10 and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), we actively participate in global financial governance and cooperation, and contribute to international financial stability.
