Archive publications
2022
Working in the financial sector
Febelfin governance
This brochure is a guideline to find out more about Febelfin's DNA. What is the mission and are the values, core tasks and strategic objectives of Febelfin. This brochure also contains more information about the composition and role of the various administrative bodies.
Bank & society
FAQ: Basic banking service for asylum seekers and refugees
Everyone is entitled to a basic banking service. Febelfin, in consultation with its members, the regulator and the Agency for 'Integratie and Inburgering', has drawn up a list of FAQs that provide guidance on the provision of the basic banking service to refugees and asylum seekers.
Supervision & policy
Position paper: Consumer Credit Directive Review & draft Imco
In 2021, the Commission published a proposal to revise the current Consumer Credit Directive (CCD). This directive harmonises European rules on consumer credit, which are loans for the purchase of consumer goods and services. Febelfin is in favor of a guideline that enables consumers to make well-considered financial choices, while at the same time allowing them to realize their projects.
Supervision & policy
Position: European Banking Package
In these position papers, Febelfin explains its position in the context of the Banking Package. With the Banking Package, the European Commission is trying to implement the Basel III rules at European level. Within this package, the rules on capital requirements will be revised.
Supervision & policy
Position: Interest Rate Risks for the Banking Book (IRRBB) en CSRBB Credit Spread Risk in the Banking Book (CSRBB)
The European Banking Authority's work on interest rate risk for the banking book (IRRBB) and credit spread risk from non-trading book activities (CSRBB) takes a closer look at the technical aspects of managing/monitoring interest rate risk.
Supervision & policy
Position: AML Package
In July 2021, the Commission published the AML Package. This package should serve to strengthen the rules on combating money laundering and terrorist financing (called AML/CFT rules: Anti-money laundering/ countering the financing of terrorism). Febelfin believes that it is essential to develop a pragmatic approach based on an effective exchange of information to mitigate the risks of money laundering and detect financial crime.
Sustainable banking
Febelfin CEO Karel Baert speaks about ESG at SSM Roundtable
During the 15th European SSM Roundtable on the theme "Banking in the New Normal and Challenges ahead", organized by the International Bankers Forum in collaboration with the National Bank of Belgium, Febelfin CEO Karel Baert spoke about the importance of ESG.
Supervision & policy
Position: De 'European Digital Identity'
In 2021, the commission came up with a proposal for a European digital identity. This proposed framework lays the foundations for a system that citizens and businesses can use across the EU. The financial sector advocates a secure platform that can be widely used.
Supervision & policy
Febelfin position: revision PSD 2
PSD2 (Payment Services Directive II) has been regulating the payment traffic of consumers and companies in the EU since 2019. This directive ensured better protection of payment transactions. This guideline is now being revised. Read our views.
Financing the economy
Energy crisis: leaflet for private individuals
Individuals who are financially affected by the energy crisis and who meet the eligibility conditions can request a deferral of payment of their home loan. Febelfin has made up a handy brochure listing all the possibilities for private individuals to reduce their monthly costs.
Sustainable banking
How ESG reporting can make a difference for your company
More and more companies use sustainability or ESG pillars to report. But how do you initiate this renewal process within your company? And how do you measure and manage the transition to greater sustainability? Febelfin has put together a useful brochure for you as an entrepreneur, which outlines the most important principles of ESG reporting and lists the benefits and certain examples of ESG reporting.
Saving & investing
MiFID/IDD: why am I being asked about my sustainability preferences?
Do you have investments or wish to start investing? Or are your assets being managed? From 2 August 2022 onwards, you will be asked by your bank, insurer or intermediary agent whether you are interested in sustainable investment and insurance products.
Bank & society
Ukraine: Information about the basic banking service
If you’ve recently arrived in Belgium from Ukraine, you have to organise everything quickly in a completely new environment. And this is not an easy task. That’s why Belgian banks offer a basic banking service – this allows you to open a basic bank account with a limited amount of money and to perform various banking transactions.
Digitalization & innovation
Storytelling: Round-the-clock-banking
We collectively engage in extensive online banking. But through which channels do we predominantly do this, and what are these channels mainly used for? Additionally, how frequently does the average person visit a bank branch and for what services? What trends do we observe in terms of cash withdrawals? Answers to these and many other questions can be found in Febelfin's storytelling, featuring the latest figures on digital and physical banking (branch network, cash withdrawals).
Saving & investing
Investing for a better future
BEAMA encourages all initiatives that inform young professionals about savings and investment products and about the risks of these products. The knowledge of financial concepts and the skills to use this knowledge are essential to make good decisions when managing savings. That is why BEAMA actively promotes the brochure “Investing for a better future" to inform and encourage young professionals to start investing early. This brochure explains how to get started.
Supervision & policy
Opinion: Febelfin & Assuralia on the introduction of European legislation on sustainability preferences in investments and purchases of financial products
Opinion piece by the CEOs of Febelfin and Assuralia in response to the introduction of the MiFID legislation and the request for sustainability preferences.
Saving & investing
Educating potential investors is an essential part of financial education
Interest in investing is increasing in Belgium. But investing remains an unknown world for many. To find out more about the investment world, we interviewed Marc Van de Gucht, Director General of BEAMA for the past year.
Sustainable banking
ESG paper: Climate and the Belgian economy
What is the impact of the European climate plan on our companies? Is the Belgian economy ready? Which sectors are in focus and are there any consequences for the labor market and our competitive position? We list the most important things. This paper was written in collaboration with UWE, VBO and VOKA.
Working in the financial sector
The search for talent - speech Karel Baert
On June 29, 2022, the Belgian Finance Center (BFC), in collaboration with Assuralia and Febelfin, organized a major debate evening focusing on "The Search for Talent in the Financial Sector". Karel Baert, CEO of Febelfin, was the keynote speaker at the event and gave a speech for the occasion.
Sustainable banking
Annual report 2021
Febelfin represents the financial sector. But what exactly does that mean? To answer that question, we once again published a comprehensive annual report this year. You can read, among other things, about the measures that banks took to support the economy during the corona crisis, about how the sector is committed to combating phishing and other forms of fraud and how banks are taking the lead in the transition to a more sustainable society.
Fraud & security
Someone who has access to your smartphone has access to your entire life
On October 11, the Center for Cybersecurity Belgium and the Cyber Security Coalition launched their annual awareness campaign on cybersecurity. We interviewed Miguël De Bruycker, Director of the CCB, for this occasion.
