The National Bank of Belgium has opened a new cash centre in Zellik, which will now coordinate Belgium’s cash logistics and replace cash-related operations previously carried out at the Bank’s headquarters in central Brussels. The purpose-built site is designed to streamline and largely automate cash logistics under state-of-the-art security standards, replacing 1960s-era facilities that were labour-intensive and difficult to modernise. The move to the outskirts of Brussels near the motorway is intended to facilitate cash transport, and the Bank reports staffing needs at the new premises are reduced by around one third. The centre handles core cash-cycle functions including sorting, checking, storing and destroying banknotes, processing around 600 million banknotes a year, and it sorts and distributes euro coins on behalf of the Belgian Treasury. The foundation stone was laid in May 2022 and the centre is presented as practically carbon neutral, using solar panels and a geothermal heating and cooling system. Relocating cash-related facilities is also positioned as enabling extensive renovation work at the Bank’s headquarters, with a renovation period indicated for 2026–2030.
National Bank of Belgium 2025-06-12
National Bank of Belgium inaugurates Zellik cash centre and shifts Belgium’s cash logistics out of its Brussels headquarters
The National Bank of Belgium has inaugurated a new cash centre in Zellik to coordinate the country's cash logistics, replacing operations previously conducted at its Brussels headquarters. The facility, designed for automation and security, reduces staffing needs by one third and processes approximately 600 million banknotes annually. The move supports extensive renovations at the headquarters, scheduled for 2026–2030.