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From an introduction to the euro currency through to paying your bills, here is your guide to the Belgian banking system.Currency
Belgium is in the Euro zone, sharing a common currency with Austria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal and The Netherlands.
Of the older EU countries, Sweden, Denmark and the UK remain the outsiders. Most of the newer EU countries plan to adopt the Euro when they are ready to do so, but each has its own timetable for convergence with Slovakia aiming to be the next member from January 2009. Euros from any of the 12 countries may be used anywhere in the EU.
Coins: 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 EUR, 2 EUR
Notes: 5 EUR, 10 EUR, 20 EUR, 50 EUR, 100 EUR, 200 EUR, 500 EUR
On one side of the coins is a European Union emblem showing a map of the Euro zone surrounded by the 12 stars of the Union. On the other side is a design specific to the country where it was minted. There is talk of abolishing the one and two cent coins to improve the trouser line. All Euro notes are the same, regardless of which country they come from, and feature symbols representing co-operation, openness, dynamism and harmony.
Paying for Goods and Services
Cash
Cash dispensers are usually found wherever there is a bank, and they all take the Bancontact/Mister Cash cards issued by local banks as well as credit cards. Dispenser lobbies within banks are open after hours and are usually only for customers of that specific bank and most don’t issue cash on credit cards. You'll need to swipe your bank card to get in. There is an irritating lack of machines in central Brussels which means queues at peak times. Machines can often be drained dry on a Saturday night, thereby frustrating Sunday morning customers.
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