KBC Group

Universal bank · Brussels, Belgium

KBC Group is a Belgian bank-insurer focused on private clients and small and medium-sized companies in Belgium, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria, where it holds top market shares. Its Belgian Business Pro account for starters costs from 4.25 euros per month with unlimited transactions. In February 2026 it became the first Belgian bank to offer Bitcoin and Ether trading through its Bolero platform under a MiCAR crypto-asset service provider notification. The group reported a record quarterly profit of 1,152 million euros in Q2 2026 with a CET1 ratio of 14.4 percent. It has no UK or US business banking and exited Ireland in 2023 to 2024.

Legal name: KBC Group NV
Regulated by: European Central Bank (SSM), National Bank of Belgium, FSMA (Belgium), Czech National Bank, National Bank of Slovakia, Magyar Nemzeti Bank, Bulgarian National Bank
Licence confirmed: yes, on a regulator's own list
Established: 1998
Website: www.kbc.com

Scores, 0 to 10

8.5Financial strength & stability

KBC Bank rated A+ (Fitch) and Aa3 (Moody's) with CET1 14.4 percent and record Q2 2026 profit. · source

7.5Europe (EU, EEA, Switzerland)

Universal bank in Belgium plus banking subsidiaries in Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria; no other EU retail markets. · source

7.0Lowest fees

Business Pro from 4.25 euros per month with unlimited transactions. · source

7.0Business cards (Visa, Mastercard)

KBC Debit Business, Mastercard Business Essential and Extra credit cards with monthly limits from 2,500 to 10,000 euros, a Business Prepaid card and employee cards for staff who are not KBC customers; with the multi-currency account the debit card pays abroad with no exchange fee. · source

6.5Fast digital onboarding

Belgian companies open a business account online via the KBC site and app. · source

6.0Cross-border payments, FX and multi-currency accounts

Handles euro plus Czech, Hungarian and Bulgarian currencies within the group; no published FX margins. Cash management across five countries; not a global transaction bank. · source

6.0Online businesses: e-commerce and SaaS

Business Pro includes unlimited transactions and cards; acquiring is via partners. Multi-currency wallets in 30 currencies with free exchange up to 1,500 euros a month and free card spend abroad; no Stripe-style integration, USD receiving account for non-Belgian firms or revenue-based financing. · source

6.0Trade, manufacturing & import-export

Trade finance for Belgian and Central European exporters; no global correspondent network of its own. · source

5.0Fintech companies that need a partner bank

No published safeguarding or BaaS programme; fintechs are served as SMEs. · source

5.0Startups & VC-backed companies

Business Pro is marketed to starters at 4.25 euros per month but has no venture products. · source

4.5Crypto-friendly bank

Regulated Bitcoin and Ether trading live for private investors since February 2026 with Taurus custody; no stated policy for crypto firms. · source

4.5Crypto wallet and custody for a business

KBC Bank is listed by ESMA as a MiCA CASP for custody, execution and transfer and holds Bolero clients' bitcoin and ether itself in omnibus accounts with sole key access, but Bolero is an investor platform and I found no confirmation that companies can hold crypto there. · source

4.5On-ramp: buy crypto with fiat

Bolero clients buy bitcoin and ether 24/7 from their cash balance at 0.5% per order with a EUR 5 minimum, but it is an investment account for individuals and no business on-ramp or exchange-funding policy is published. · source

4.5Bitcoin

Bolero clients can buy, hold and sell bitcoin in KBC custody since February 2026, with outgoing transfers allowed only to an address in the client's own name at an EU-regulated CASP and no incoming transfers. · source

4.0Off-ramp: crypto to fiat in a business account

Bitcoin and ether bought on Bolero can be sold back to euros, but crypto from other platforms or wallets cannot be transferred in, so a business cannot cash out outside holdings at KBC. · source

4.0Ethereum

Ether is offered on the same closed terms as bitcoin, with staking explicitly excluded and no other tokens, checked September 2026. · source

3.5Best interest on business balances

The Business Pro page prices the account by monthly fee and lists no yield on balances. · source

3.5Foreign-owned & non-resident companies

Business accounts open online with itsme, the Belgian electronic identity; no path is published for foreign-incorporated companies or owners without Belgian identification. · source

3.0Customer satisfaction

Trustpilot score is 1.6 out of 5. · source

2.0Stablecoins (USDC, USDT and others)

Bolero offers only bitcoin and ether, and KBC's stablecoin role is as a founding member of the Qivalis euro coin, which still had no DNB licence in September 2026. · source

1.5High-risk verticals (iGaming, cannabis, adult, forex)

Section 6.1.7 of the July 2025 Sustainability Policy Framework rules out financing, insurance or advisory services to companies with relevant involvement in gambling including online gambling, and section 6.1.10 excludes any prostitution-related activity. · source

1.0Accept crypto payments

KBC's crypto custody policy states the service does not allow using crypto-assets as a means of payment, and no merchant crypto acceptance was found, checked September 2026. · source

Sources

Built on public information and the BankStore team's own aggregated experience; no confidential client or partner data. Bank Index and BankStore are not banks. This is information, not financial advice.