While our Dutch roots go back 300 years, ABN AMRO has a shorter history in Belgium. In 1937, the Amsterdamsche Bank established a branch in Antwerp specifically for the diamond industry. This branch was renamed Amro Bank in 1972, ABN in 1984 and ABN AMRO in 1991, as a result of the merger between ABN and Amro. Antwerp has always been ABN AMRO’s home base. The first Brussels branch followed in 1973.
In 2008, the Dutch State acquired the Dutch activities of ABN AMRO Holding N.V. and Fortis Bank Netherlands. In 2010, ABN AMRO and Fortis Bank Netherlands merged, resulting in the present ABN AMRO. ABN AMRO Belgium, together with its branches and subsidiaries, is a 100% subsidiary of ABN AMRO Bank.
Acquisition Societe Generale Private Banking Belgium
Creation of Corporate and Institutional Banking
Acquisition Bank Corluy
Acquisition of Bank De Maertelaere by the Société Générale group
Stockbroker becomes Bank De Maertelaere
Merger between ABN and Amro Bank into ABN AMRO
Commercial and Diamond Bank becomes ABN
Establishment Commercial and Diamond Bank
Establishment of a branch for the diamond industry by Amsterdamsche Bank
Establishment of the stockbroker De Maertelaere
Establishment Bank Corluy
ABN AMRO also wanted to serve Dutch companies having links with Belgium and vice versa. In view of the close trading ties between the Netherlands and Belgium, the establishment of Corporate Banking was a logical next step. The maritime sector in particular is increasingly prominent, operating within the major triangle formed by the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp. With the establishment of Corporate & Institutional Clients, Belgian Large Corporates have access to an extensive offer of products and services. With Enterprise & Entrepreneur, ABN AMRO focusses on clients who have entrusted both their private wealth and their corporate assets to ABN AMRO.
The acquisition of Societe Generale Private Banking Belgium in the beginning of 2019 is an important milestone for ABN AMRO Private Banking Belgium. By combining ABN AMRO’s existing private banking activities in Belgium with those of Societe Generale, ABN AMRO strengthens its market position in Belgium and its position in the Eurozone as a leading private bank.
ABN AMRO Belgium is a solid and contemporary bank with Dutch roots and a global network. In Belgium, we have about 400 employees distributed across different business activities. Together, they provide a comprehensive range of online banking, Private Banking and Corporate Banking products and services to both individuals and companies. In addition to the head office in Berchem, today ABN AMRO Belgium has branches in Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Hasselt, Sint-Martens-Latem, Kortrijk, Liège and Tournai.
