Belfius to pay out additional half a billion euros to the Belgian state
The state-owned bank Belfius will pay out an additional dividend of 500 million euros to the Belgian state, its sole shareholder. This half a billion euros is in addition to the dividend of 444.5 million euros that had already been approved.
In the spring, it was announced that the De Wever government would demand an additional half a billion euros from Belfius to increase the defence budget. That has now happened. Belfius announced on Friday evening that it will pay this amount to the state.
This amount is in addition to the regular dividend of 444.5 million euros, which was approved by Belfius’ annual general meeting of shareholders on 30 April. In total, almost 1 billion euros will thus flow from the bank to the Belgian treasury this year.
The bank explains that the extra payment will be split evenly between an extraordinary dividend from available reserves (250 million euros) and an interim dividend based on the results as of 30 September 2025 (another 250 million euros).
The extraordinary dividend reduces Belfius' available capital and its capacity to build up future capital buffers. The bank therefore still needs to obtain approval from the European Central Bank.
Belfius expects the capital ratios to fall by about 35 basis points as a result of the request. The exact figure will be released at the end of August when the half-year figures are published.
The extra payout follows the news that the federal government may soon decide to sell a minority stake in Belfius. The government is also likely to count on half a billion euros from the bank for the defence budget next year.
Illustration © PHOTO ANP / Hollandse Hoogte / Peter Hilz
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