{ "title": "BNP Paribas Fortis, Fintro and hello bank! to launch the new regulated boost savings account (cat. b**) on 4 may to support regular saving", "modified_at": "2026-05-04 12:53:35", "published_at": "2026-05-04 08:30:00", "url": "https://newsroom.bnpparibasfortis.be/bnp-paribas-fortis-fintro-and-hello-bank-to-launch-the-new-regulated-boost-savings-account-cat-b-on-4-may-to-support-regular-saving", "short_url": "http://prez.ly/poEd", "culture": "en", "language": "EN", "slug": "bnp-paribas-fortis-fintro-and-hello-bank-to-launch-the-new-regulated-boost-savings-account-cat-b-on-4-may-to-support-regular-saving", "body": "

BNP Paribas Fortis is introducing a new Boost Savings Account (Cat. B), which enables customers to build up capital in a simple and consistent manner.

Today, a new geopolitical crisis is weighing on Belgium’s economic outlook in two key ways:

First, higher fuel prices are driving up costs across other product categories. Recent survey data show that a large number of Belgian producers plan to raise their selling prices in the coming months. This virtually guarantees an acceleration in inflation; our current full-year forecast stands at 3.2%.

Second, economic activity is slowing. Our latest nowcast1 – a preliminary estimate for the current second quarter – points to a slowdown in growth.

The combination of higher prices and slower growth increases the risk of stagflation, leading to an erosion of purchasing power for Belgian households.

In this uncertain context, many retail customers may wish to save more in order to protect themselves against unforeseen circumstances. Regular savings, even in small amounts, enable people to build up a financial cushion for emergencies, buying a first home or accumulating capital following the birth of a child.

In this context, BNP Paribas Fortis aims to continue fulfilling its role as a partner for its customers. To support their savings efforts, the bank will launch the Boost Savings Account on 4 May 2026.

The new Boost Savings Account allows customers to save regularly at an attractive interest rate. It offers a base interest rate of 1.40% and a loyalty premium of 1.50% per year. The maximum deposit per calendar month is €500, excluding interest.

If a transfer exceeds this limit, it is rejected in its entirety and the entire amount is automatically refunded to the originating account. There is no minimum monthly deposit requirement, so small amounts are also possible. Saving via a standing order is also possible, but not mandatory.

Key features of the new Boost Savings Account:

The Boost Savings Account meets all the conditions of a regulated savings account under Belgian law. This means that, among other things, interest remains exempt from withholding tax up to the statutory ceiling.

With this new Boost Savings Account, BNP Paribas Fortis aims to enable people of all ages to save regularly. By setting a monthly limit, BNP Paribas Fortis encourages conscious, gradual savings growth.

Standard Savings Account: limit removed

The balance of the savings account (category B**) was limited to €250,000. This limit has been removed as from 1 April 2026. This means that the account will move from category B** to category A*.

Overview table of savings accounts on 4 May 2026

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Category

Base interest rate

Loyalty premium

\n \n

Boost Savings Account (monthly savings amount limited to €500)

B

1.40%

1.50%

\n \n

Savings Account Plus (balance limited to a maximum of €100,000 per account)

B

0.15%

0.85%

\n \n

Savings Account

(no conditions)

A

0.30%

0.20%

\n \n \n\n

The interest rates shown are gross annual percentages.

* Cat. A: This is a standard regulated savings account. Neither the base interest rate nor the loyalty premium is subject to any conditions.

** Cat. B: This is a regulated savings account that is subject to certain conditions. For example, there may be limits on the maximum balance that can be held in the account or on the maximum deposit amount per month.

Return on savings accounts

The interest rate on a savings account consists of a base interest rate and a loyalty premium, both of which may vary depending on market conditions.

Base interest rate :

The base interest rate is the interest you receive on every amount deposited into your savings account. Your money earns interest for every day it remains in your account (from the calendar day after the deposit is made). Base interest is credited annually on 1 January (or when the account is closed).

Loyalty premium :

You receive a loyalty premium on each deposit that remains in your savings account for an uninterrupted period of 12 consecutive months. Any loyalty premiums paid also generate interest. The loyalty premium accrues from the day after the deposit is made and is paid on the first day of the quarter following its accrual (1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October), or when the account is closed.

The loyalty premium may fluctuate, but it is guaranteed for the entire accrual period. What does this mean?

For example, you deposited €100 into your savings account on 20 May 2026. 12 months later, on 21 May 2027, you will receive the loyalty premium that applied on 20 May 2026 for that €100 – regardless of whether the loyalty premium rate changed in the meantime. A new 12-month accrual period then begins. The loyalty premium that will apply is the rate in effect at the time of renewal – in this case, 21 May 2027. This rate may differ from the one that applied during the previous period.

If you withdraw money from your savings account before the 12-month accrual period has elapsed, you will lose the loyalty premium on the withdrawn amount.

Risks associated with savings accounts

Bankruptcy risk :

Money deposited in a BNP Paribas Fortis savings account is covered by the deposit protection mechanism up to a maximum of €100,000 per person. However, in the event of the bank's bankruptcy or impending bankruptcy, the saver may not be able to recover their savings. They may also be required to reduce or convert their claims against the financial institution that exceed €100,000 into equity shares (bail-in), meaning these claims would not be covered by the deposit protection mechanism.

Inflation risk :

A sustained rise in prices may lead to a loss of value of the deposited funds.

Costs associated with savings accounts

Savings accounts are free of charge, except for possible postage costs if account statements are sent by post. An annual fee of €2.50 is charged if the balance on the savings account is less than €25 and no withdrawals or deposits have been made for 10 years. This only applies if the account holder is aged 24 or over and does not have any other accounts with BNP Paribas Fortis, Hello bank! or Fintro.

Withholding tax

The bank does not withhold withholding tax on the interest of a regulated savings account, provided this interest does not exceed the annual exempt amount of €1,020 (income 2026). For a savings account opened in the names of two married or cohabiting partners, the bank does not withhold tax on interest up to twice this amount, i.e. €2,040 (income 2026).

If you are a tax resident of Belgium, you must check each year the total amount of interest on regulated savings accounts to which you are entitled under your marital property regime (as well as, in the case of children under the age of 18, accounts over which you have legal usufruct), for which banks have not withheld tax at source. If this amount exceeds the annual exempt amount of €1,020 per taxpayer (assuming residence in Belgium for the whole income year), you must declare the excess in your personal income tax return. The portion of your interest that is not exempt is subject to withholding tax at a rate of 15%.

The Boost Savings Account, the Savings Account Plus and the Savings Account are all regulated savings accounts under Belgian law offered by BNP Paribas Fortis, and they are opened for an indefinite period.

You must read the document 'Essential information for savers' before opening a regulated savings account. These documents, as well as the conditions, can be consulted on the website from 15 April 2026.

More general information about regulated savings accounts can be found via the following link: https://www.bnpparibasfortis.be/spaarinfo.

Complaints

Complaints regarding our products and/or services can be addressed to BNP Paribas Fortis NV, Complaints Management, Warandeberg 3, B-1000 Brussels, or via email at klachtenbeheer@bnpparibasfortis.com.

If you are not satisfied with the solution proposed by the bank, you can submit a complaint to the Ombudsman for Financial Services (Ombudsfin). To ensure your complaint is handled quickly, please use the form available on the website. Or by email (only if you experience a problem with the web form):

ombudsman@ombudsfin.be.
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1 Nowcasting is an economic method for producing real-time estimates of current economic activity (e.g., GDP growth, inflation) before official data becomes available.

The BNP Paribas Fortis nowcast, developed in collaboration with Ghent University (UGent), provides an early assessment of growth in the current quarter, based on the latest signals—well ahead of the release of official GDP figures.

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\"Hilde
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\n Hilde Junius\n Spokesperson\n \n
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\"Jeroen
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\n Jeroen Petrus\n Spokesperson\n \n
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