Payment methods in Belgium
The Belgian e-commerce market is worth US$16 billion a year. By 2027, that will rise to US$23 billion.
Market takeaways
- The Belgian e-commerce market is worth US$16 billion a year. By 2027, that will rise to US$23 billion.
- The average Belgian online shopper spends US$1,492 a year with online merchants. By 2027, this will rise to US$2,043.
- Belgians use mobile devices to make almost 40% of their online purchases, up from just 21% as recently as 2020.
- Belgians use digital payment methods in half of their online transactions, with bank transfers alone used in almost one fifth.
- Over 30% of all the items Belgians buy online, worth US$4.7 billion, come from merchants outside the country.
Population
11.6M
Online population
10.3M
B2C e-commerce
$12.4B
Banked population
99%
Credit card population
55%
E-commerce of total retail
10%
Payment method breakdown
- Card47%
- Cash3%
- Bank Transfer17%
- E-Wallet15%
- Other18%
Card scheme breakdown
- Visa6%
- Mastercard15%
- American Express1%
- Local schemes78%
- Other0%
Cross-border e-commerce
Cross-border shoppers
80%
Share of e-commerce
31%
Cross-border value (est.)
$4.7B
Featured payment methods in Belgium
Popular options based on coverage and prominence in this market.
Scalapay
European 3-installment BNPL growing in Belgian fashion and lifestyle e-commerce.
Bancontact
Belgium's dominant domestic payment scheme, present on virtually all Belgian bank cards. Processes ~78% of local card transactions (~1.4 billion per year). The Bancontact app enables QR and push-payment checkout online and in-store. The definitive local payment method for Belgium — used by the entire adult population.
Wero
Pan-European instant payment wallet launched in 2024 by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), backed by major Belgian banks. Built on SEPA Instant Credit Transfers. Growing as a P2P and e-commerce payment option alongside Bancontact.
FLOA Pay
BNPL provider offering deferred and instalment payment at checkout across 7 European markets including Belgium.
Trustly
Pan-European open banking payment enabling direct bank-to-bank transfers without card data. Active across Belgium and 10 other European markets.
All payment methods in Belgium
Discover 5 payment methods from around the world
Featured banks in Belgium
Major institutions operating in this market.
BNP Paribas
Paris, France
BNP Paribas is France's largest bank and a global top-10 financial institution, providing retail, corporate, and investment banking, insurance, and asset management across 65 countries.
ING Group
Amsterdam, Netherlands
ING Group is the Netherlands' largest bank and a leading European financial institution. It operates a digital-first universal banking model across Europe and globally.
KBC Group
Brussels, Belgium
KBC Group is a Belgian banking-insurance company with a strong presence in Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Ireland.
BNP Paribas Fortis
Brussels, Belgium
BNP Paribas Fortis is Belgium's largest bank, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, offering retail, business, and corporate banking across Belgium and Luxembourg.
ABN AMRO
Amsterdam, Netherlands
ABN AMRO is the Netherlands' third-largest bank, focusing on retail, private, and corporate banking primarily in the Netherlands and Northwest Europe.
Belfius Bank
Brussels, Belgium
Belfius is a Belgian state-owned bank and insurance company, focusing on Belgian retail clients, local governments, social economy, and public sector financing.
