Belgium Inaugurates New State-of-the-Art Cash Centre

The National Bank of Belgium (NBB) has officially inaugurated its new cash centre – an environment-friendly facility from where all cash logistics for Belgium will be coordinated.

Cash-related activities have, until now, been carried out at the NBB’s headquarters in the centre of Brussels – which date back to the 1960s, are outdated, labourintensive and difficult to modernise, with ageing fixtures, multiple floors, several vaults and no automation.

The new 10,000m² purpose-built complex in Zellik, on a greenfield site on the outskirts of Brussels, meets state-of-the-art security standards and allows cash logistics activities to be streamlined and largely automated. For example, staffing needs have been reduced by a third.

Moving cash activities from the busy city centre to the outskirts near the motorway will also facilitate the transport of cash.

The decision to invest in the new €100 million facility was taken in 2017.

The foundation stone was laid in May 2022. Substantial efforts have been made to ensure that the construction is sustainable and environmentally friendly. Thanks to 2,300m² of solar panels, a geothermal heating and cooling system and a green zone, the centre is practically carbon neutral.