ExpatMoneyEU verdict: Open Belfius Beats Pulse if you want a free Belgian account with a real BE IBAN; open ING Belgium if you want a full-service bank that understands expats and a future mortgage. Both are strong second-step banks — and open N26 first either way, because it is free and needs no Belgian address.
Belfius and ING Belgium are the two Belgian banks most often recommended to expats, but they solve different problems. Belfius Beats Pulse is a free, fully digital Belgian account — the cheapest route to a genuine BE IBAN. ING Belgium is a full-service bank whose Do More Pack is explicitly built for expats, with English-language support and a product range that stretches to mortgages.
This comparison scores both banks on the criteria expats care about, and names the free account you should open first regardless of which Belgian bank you eventually pick.
Quick comparison
| Belfius Beats Pulse | ING Belgium (Do More Pack) | |
| Monthly fee | €0 | Entry packs from €0–€4/mo* |
| IBAN | Belgian (BE) | Belgian (BE) |
| Branches | Yes, Belfius network | Yes, nationwide |
| App | Top-rated Belgian banking app | Strong app, English available |
| English support | English app available | Full, incl. expat onboarding |
| Expat onboarding | Standard, needs Belgian address + residence card | Expat-focused, onboarding can start from abroad in some cases |
| Mortgages & full range | Full range available | Full range, strong for internationals |
| Deposit protection | Up to €100,000 | Up to €100,000 |
| Best for | Free Belgian banking | Full-service expat banking |
*ING pack prices vary by package and are reported here as the entry-level monthly equivalents from 2026 comparison surveys — verify on ING Belgium's own price list. Belfius Beats Pulse is free as a digital payment account; other Belfius packs carry fees.
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Expert Score
| Monthly fee | Belgian IBAN | Branch access | App quality | Expat onboarding | Full-service range | Expert Score | |
| Belfius Beats Pulse | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8.8 |
| ING Belgium | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8.6 |
Scores by ExpatMoneyEU Research Team from the criteria above — not influenced by commissions.
1. Belfius Beats Pulse — the free Belgian account
the free Belgian account
Belfius Beats Pulse is a 100% digital, fee-free Belgian payment account from Belfius, one of Belgium's largest banks. You get a genuine Belgian IBAN, a debit card, and access to one of the market's top-rated banking apps, all without a monthly fee. For expats, that BE IBAN is what ends the occasional employer or landlord objection to a foreign IBAN.
The catch is onboarding: you will normally need a Belgian address and a residence card, and the process assumes you are already in the Belgian population register. That is why Belfius is a second-step account, not a first-week one — but once you qualify, it is the cheapest full Belgian banking you can get.
→ Best Bank Account for Pakistanis in Belgium — November 2026 Guide
2. ING Belgium — the expat-friendly full-service bank
the expat-friendly full-service bank
ING Belgium is the most expat-aware of the traditional banks: its Do More Pack is explicitly marketed at expats, with English-language support and onboarding options that can start from abroad in some cases. You get a full-service Belgian account — branches, savings products, cards, and a bank that understands international customers and their paperwork.
The trade-off is cost and complexity: entry-level packs carry a small monthly fee depending on the package, and the full range of options can be confusing for newcomers. For expats who want one bank that does everything — salary, savings, and a future mortgage — ING is the natural full-service pick.
→ Best Bank Account for Filipinos in Belgium — November 2026 Guide
3. The account to open first: N26 (free, no Belgian address needed)
3. The account to open first: N26 (free, no Belgian address needed)
Whichever Belgian bank you pick, open N26 first. It is free, it opens in roughly 10–20 minutes with just a passport and a smartphone, and — crucially — it needs no Belgian address. That means your salary, rent and spending work from week one, while your Belfius or ING application is still waiting on commune registration.
Pair N26 with Wise for transfers home, then add Belfius or ING once your residence card exists. Most long-term expats in Belgium run exactly this two-account setup.
→ Belgium Net Salary Calculator 2026 — Gross to Net Pay
How to open each account as an expat
Opening a traditional Belgian bank account takes more paperwork than opening a free app account, but the process is straightforward once you know what each bank asks for. Start with the free account — N26 opens in roughly 10–20 minutes with a passport and needs no Belgian address — so your salary and rent work while the Belgian-bank application is still waiting on your commune registration. Then gather the documents both Belgian banks want: photo ID (your passport), proof of Belgian address, and your residence card or national register number.
For Belfius Beats Pulse, the whole process runs in the app: download it, verify your identity, confirm your Belgian address and residence status, and your Belgian IBAN and debit card follow. Because Beats Pulse is a digital product, there is no branch appointment — but there is also no way around the residence requirement, so it is a second-step account for newcomers. For ING Belgium, you can apply online or in a branch; the expat-oriented Do More Pack route includes English-language guidance, and in some cases onboarding can start from abroad before you arrive. Expect a branch visit if your documentation is unusual, and your cards typically arrive by post within a week or two.
Two practical points apply to both banks. First, register at your commune as early as possible: the national register number unlocks not just banking but health insurance, tax and most admin in Belgium. Second, keep your free N26 account active even after the Belgian account opens — it remains your best backup for travel spending and instant transfers, and it costs nothing to keep.
→ Best Bank Account for Pakistanis in Belgium — November 2026 Guide
Scenario framework: which bank for which expat
- Cost-first newcomer. Belfius Beats Pulse — free, Belgian IBAN, branches behind it.
- Full-service expat. ING Belgium — expat onboarding, English support, mortgage range.
- Not yet registered. N26 first — no Belgian address needed — then Belfius or ING after registration.
- Future homeowner. ING Belgium — the broader lending and savings range under one roof.
Practical tips
- Documents: both banks want photo ID plus a Belgian address and residence card; ING's expat onboarding is the more flexible of the two for newcomers.
- Commune registration first: open N26 or Wise before registration; add Belfius or ING after, when your address and residence card make approval easy.
- Two-account setup: run N26 for daily spending and Wise for transfers home, and Belfius or ING for salary, direct debits and anything that needs a Belgian IBAN.
- Fees change: pack prices are revised regularly — check the current price list before applying.
What to watch in 2027
Belgian banks typically publish revised price lists in January — re-check your pack's fee schedule each new year. Belgium's 2026 personal income tax reform (which raised the tax-free allowance to €11,550) also means 2027 payslips may look different from 2026 ones, so re-run your net salary estimate in January — see our Belgium net salary calculator. None of this changes the recommendation: open the free account now, pick your Belgian bank when your registration exists.
By the numbers
Belgium's deposit guarantee scheme covers deposits up to €100,000 per depositor per bank — the same EU-wide limit that applies to both banks in this guide (Belgian deposit guarantee scheme, 2026). Expat guides in 2026 describe Belfius Beats Pulse as a 100% digital, fee-free Belgian payment account with one of the market's top-rated banking apps, and ING Belgium's Do More Pack as a full-service current account designed for expats with English-language support.
How we compared: the methodology
How we compared
Fees and features checked: the providers' official websites and published price lists, as referenced throughout this guide. Criteria: monthly fees, branch access, English support, expat onboarding and deposit protection. Verdicts are the editorial judgment of the ExpatMoneyEU Research Team — not financial advice. Figures are illustrative; always verify the current terms with the provider before opening an account.
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