.jpeg)
For consumers, security, ease of use and cost are the most important criteria when choosing a payment method. At a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing, the study shows that Belgians do not trust bots to handle their payments. ‘Buy now, pay later’ (BNPL)is becoming increasingly visible, but only a minority of Belgians actually use it.
Caution prevails over AI-driven payments
For the time being, Belgians remain cautious about AI-driven payments. These are payments that are initiated or confirmed by giving a spoken command to a digital assistant, such as a banking chatbot or a voice assistant on a smartphone. Only 30% are aware that such solutions exist, 23% say they trust them and 22% would actually be willing to use them. Six out of ten respondents currently see no benefit at all in AI-driven payments. The main concerns relate to fraud, a lack of control and potential transaction errors.
These results demonstrate that the future of payments hinges not only on technological innovation, but also on trust, ease of use, transparency and cost-effectiveness. For BNP Paribas Fortis, this confirms the importance of developing payment solutions that meet consumers’ specific needs, focusing on security, simplicity and freedom of choice.
Debit and credit cards
Traditional payment cards remain firmly embedded in everyday life: 97% of Belgians have a debit card, while 71% have a credit card. Interestingly, 60% are interested in a combined debit and credit card that would allow users to choose between immediate and deferred payment at the time of purchase.
Digital wallets have yet to achieve widespread adoption
Digital wallets are now widely known but have yet to really take off. These are mobile applications in which payment cards can be stored digitally, enabling users to make payments using a smartphone or smartwatch. Examples include Apple Pay, Google Pay and Garmin Pay. Only 35% of smartphone users currently have one or more digital wallets installed, while 52% have no plans to install one.
The main barriers are a lack of clear added value, insufficient knowledge and concerns about security and fraud. Those who do use a digital wallet generally do so regularly: 59% use one at least once a week. Younger users in particular use these applications more frequently.
The most highly valued benefits of digital wallets are fraud protection, integration with banking apps and the ability to pay using a QR code. Nevertheless, 69% of respondents say they have greater confidence in banking apps, a figure which increases with age.
BNPL is well known, but also raises questions
‘Buy now, pay later’ is now also well known among the general public: 66% of Belgians are familiar with the concept, rising to over 75% among 18- to 34-year-olds. Actual usage remains limited for the time being, however: 22% of Belgians have used it, compared to over 40% of 18 to 34-year-olds.
Users particularly value the flexibility and the ability to spread the cost of larger purchases, as well as the fact that there is no immediate impact on their bank account. Almost half (48%) of BNPL users say it has led them to use their credit card less often. Among 18- to 44-year-olds, this figure rises to 62%. At the same time, BNPL also raises significant concerns, including additional costs for late payment, impulse purchases and the risk of debt.
Payment methods at BNP Paribas Fortis
BNP Paribas Fortis offers several payment packages for individuals. Easy Go includes one current account for personal use, along with two debit cards (for the account holder and one for an authorised representative). Easy Guide offers one current account (with the option of increasing this to three), up to six debit cards (two per account) and two credit cards (Visa Classic or Mastercard Gold).
Young people can choose from the Welcome Pack (for under-18s), which includes a debit card, and the Hello Pack (for 18- to 25-year-olds), which includes a current account and a debit card.
BNP Paribas Fortis also supports the Apple Pay, Google Pay and Garmin Pay digital wallets. Customers can add their debit (Bancontact-Visa/Mastercard) and credit (Visa/Mastercard) cards to their smartphone, smartwatch or activity tracker free of charge. In 2025, BNP Paribas Fortis customers made over 132 million digital wallet transactions (+63% compared to 2024), for a total value of more than €3.3 billion (+73% compared to 2024). They spent an average of around €25 per transaction.
Methodology
The survey was conducted in January and February 2026 among a representative sample of 1,505 Belgian adults (aged 18+). The study examined current payment habits, preferences, barriers and openness to new payment solutions.