Korfine est-il un compte bloqué ?

Non. Korfine est un contrat d'assurance-vie branche 26, pas un compte bancaire. C'est un assureur qui détient le capital en garantie, pas votre banque. L'expression "compte bloqué Korfine" est très répandue mais techniquement incorrecte : le capital est bien immobilisé, mais dans le cadre d'un contrat d'assurance, pas d'un compte bancaire individualisé.

Quelle est la différence entre Korfine et l'e-dépôt ?

L'e-DEPO est un service de l'administration fiscale belge accessible via MyMinfin. Il place les fonds du locataire auprès de la Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), un organisme public. C'est gratuit, sans intervention bancaire privée. Korfine est un contrat d'assurance branche 26 : le capital est géré par un assureur privé, des droits d'entrée sont prélevés à la souscription, et le rendement est souvent faible. Les deux immobilisent votre capital ; la nature de l'organisme dépositaire et le coût diffèrent fondamentalement.

Le bailleur peut-il exiger un compte bloqué bancaire plutôt que Korfine ?

Non. La loi belge autorise plusieurs formes de garantie locative, et le bailleur doit accepter toute forme légalement conforme. Il ne peut pas imposer un compte bloqué bancaire si le locataire propose une garantie Korfine équivalente, ni l'inverse. Le choix appartient au locataire, dans les limites fixées par la législation régionale applicable.

Puis-je choisir librement entre compte bloqué bancaire et Korfine ?

Oui, dans la grande majorité des cas. Les deux formes sont légalement reconnues en Belgique. Le compte via e-DEPO est gratuit mais nécessite de disposer de la somme dès la signature du bail. Korfine implique des droits d'entrée à la souscription et immobilise votre capital pendant toute la durée du bail. La meilleure option dépend de votre situation financière au moment de l'emménagement.

Qu'est-ce que la branche 26 dans le contexte de la garantie locative ?

La branche 26 désigne une catégorie réglementaire de produits d'assurance-vie à capital garanti, sans composante épargne en unités de compte. Dans le cadre de la garantie locative, un contrat branche 26 comme Korfine permet à un assureur de détenir le capital de garantie à la place du locataire. Le capital est garanti et peut produire un taux d'intérêt. C'est un encadrement réglementaire assurantiel, pas bancaire.

Rental Guarantee · Belgium

Korfine: Blocked account or insurance?
The distinction that many people are unaware of

In Belgium, people often talk about a “Korfine blocked account” — but Korfine isn’t a bank account. It’s a Branch 26 life insurance policy. Here’s what that means for you in practical terms.

See the differences Alternatives without blocking

Legal Clarification

Branch 26 Explained

A Comparison of 3 Options

Legal Context

Why do people refer to a “Korfine blocked account”?

The term “Korfine blocked account” is widely used, but it conflates two distinct concepts. A blocked bank account and a Korfine Branch 26 guarantee serve the same legal purpose: to secure the rental guarantee. That is why the two are often confused.

Belgian law permits several forms of rental guarantees, without mandating any specific one. This leads to confusion: tenants and landlords sometimes use the term “escrow account” to refer to any mechanism that sets aside a sum as a rental guarantee—including Korfine.

The term “Korfine blocked account” is therefore technically incorrect, but widely used in practice. This page explains why this distinction has practical implications.

Under Belgian law, a rental guarantee can take several forms:

(1) e-DEPO — a MyMinfin service that deposits funds with the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations
(2) Branch 26 insurance contract — this is the Korfine mechanism
(3) Restored bank guarantee (monthly payments made to the bank)
garantie.be offers a fourth option: a joint and several guarantee, with no capital required to be set aside.

Technical Comparison

Blocked Bank Account vs. Korfine Branch 26

Both mechanisms tie up your capital—but they differ in terms of their legal nature, cost, and how they work.

Blocked Account / e-DEPO

Legal status Individual blocked bank account
Who owns the company , Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (via e-DEPO/MyMinfin)
Yield ; Statutory rate (currently ~0.11%)
Vacating the Premises at the End of the Lease : Written Agreement Between Both Parties or Court Order
Cost to the tenant Free—no premium to pay
Available via Via MyMinfin (e-DEPO) · Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations

Korfine (Branch 26 Insurance)

Legal classification : Life insurance contract (Class 26)
Who owns the company , an insurance partner of Korfine
Return ; Guaranteed rate for Branch 26
Vacating the Premises at the End of the Lease : Written Agreement Between Both Parties or Court Order
Cost to the tenant Subscription fees (one-time fee)
Available through Korfine directly · brokers · real estate agencies

Practical Implications

What This Means for You in Practical Terms

For the tenant

In both cases, your capital is tied up. The main difference is the cost: with the e-DEPO account, there is no fee; with Korfine, an initial fee is charged upon enrollment. The entity holding the capital also differs.

For the landlord

Both forms are legally equivalent. A landlord cannot require one form over the other: as long as the security deposit complies with the law, the landlord is required to accept it.

For Liberation

The procedure is the same in both cases: a written agreement signed by the tenant and the landlord, or a court order. Neither option is any easier to fulfill than the other.

Block-free alternative

Option 3: A guarantee with no locked-up capital

garantie.be is neither a blocked bank account nor a Branch 26 insurance policy. It is a guarantee: garantie.be acts as your guarantor with the landlord. You do not tie up any capital; your savings remain available.

With a blocked bank account or Korfine, you must set aside 2 to 3 months’ rent. This money remains frozen for the entire duration of the lease—sometimes several years.

With garantie.be, you pay a modest premium (calculated based on the length of the lease) and keep your savings available for other expenses related to your move.

The guarantee is sent directly to your landlord in the form of a certificate. It has the same legal standing as an escrow account or a Korfine contract.

garantie.be

NO LOCKUP

No capital to tie up
Your savings remain available
100% online — certificate issued in a few hours
Approved by Belgian donors
FSMA-Licensed Broker · Compliant with Belgian law

Start my application

Comparative Analysis

Advantages and Limitations of the 3 Options

Frozen bank account

Free — no premium to pay
Statutory rate on frozen capital
Capital tied up for the entire term of the lease
Required banking procedures

Korfine Branch 26

Widely accepted by donors
Insurance Regulatory Framework
Subscription Fees · Locked-Up Capital
Fixed capital · zero return

garantie.be

No capital to tie up
Fast · 100% online
Premium due—but your principal remains available

Frequently Asked Questions

Korfine, Account Blocked, Episode 26: Your Questions

Is Korfine a blocked account?

No. Korfine is a Branch 26 life insurance policy, not a bank account. It is the insurer that holds the capital as collateral, not your bank. The term “Korfine locked-in account” is widely used but technically incorrect: the funds are indeed locked in, but as part of an insurance policy, not an individual bank account.

What is the difference between Korfine and e-filing?

e-DEPO is a service provided by the Belgian tax authority that is accessible via MyMinfin. It deposits the tenant’s funds with the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), a public agency. The service is free and does not involve a private bank. Korfine is a Branch 26 insurance policy—the capital is managed by a private insurer, entry fees are charged upon subscription, and the return is often low. Both options tie up your capital; however, the nature of the custodian and the cost differ fundamentally.

Can the landlord require a blocked bank account instead of Korfine?

No. Belgian law permits several forms of rental guarantee, and the landlord must accept any form that complies with the law. The landlord cannot require a blocked bank account if the tenant offers an equivalent Korfine guarantee, nor can the tenant require a blocked bank account if the landlord offers an equivalent Korfine guarantee. The choice is up to the tenant, within the limits set by applicable regional legislation.

Can I freely choose between a restricted bank account and Korfine?

Yes, in the vast majority of cases. Both forms are legally recognized in Belgium. The e-DEPO account is free but requires that you have the funds available as soon as the lease is signed. Korfine involves an initial fee upon enrollment and ties up your capital for the entire duration of the lease. The best option depends on your financial situation at the time you move in.

What is Section 26 in the context of the rental guarantee?

Branch 26 refers to a regulatory category of life insurance products with guaranteed principal, without a unit-linked savings component. Under the rental guarantee, a Branch 26 policy such as Korfine allows an insurer to hold the guarantee principal on your behalf. The principal is guaranteed and may earn interest. This falls under insurance regulations, not banking regulations.

Related Pages

To learn more about Korfine and the types of rental guarantees in Belgium

Korfine Warranty: How It Works, Contact Information, and Alternatives How does the Korfine warranty work? How to Get Your Korfine Bond Returned: A Complete Guide All Types of Rental Guarantees in Belgium

Korfine: Blocked account or insurance? The distinction that many people are unaware of