119,517 customers submitted applications through Bankswitching last year to switch banks. Just over a third of them (37%) used the bank switching service to close their old current account and transfer payments (such as direct debits) to the new current account. 25% of customers opted to transfer their payments to a new bank. In 9% of the applications, it involved closing the old current account without transferring payments. In 2022, the service received 93,167 applications. 

Since the launch of the savings account bank switching service at the end of 2020, many customers have also taken advantage of it. In 2023, 34,981 customers chose to switch banks with the closure of their savings account, accounting for nearly a third (29%) of the total applications through Bankswitching. 

When switching a current account, the customer only needs to contact their new bank, fill out the application form, and return it. Afterward, the old and new banks collaborate to facilitate the switch. The customer also selects the switch date on the form (at least 10 working days after and no later than one month from the application date). 

One significant advantage of this service is that the customer doesn't have to inform their creditors using direct debits or recurring payers of the new account number themselves; the banks handle this internally. Creditors and recurring payers receive a notification about the switch through the interbank service Bankswitching. 

Customers can also use the bank switching service for savings accounts. The customer requests the new bank to settle the savings account with the old bank through Bankswitching. The new bank will handle the settlement directly with the previous bank.

The participating banks currently offering the bank switching service for savings accounts include AXA Bank Belgium, Bank Van Breda & C°, Banque CPH, Belfius, Beobank, BNP Paribas Fortis, bpost bank, CBC Banque, Crelan, Europabank, Fintro, ING Belgium, KBC Bank, and vdk bank.