Form

Blocked Bank Account

BNP Paribas Fortis Rental Guarantee
: Blocked Account and Alternatives

BNP Paribas Fortis offers a blocked account for your rental guarantee. Here’s how the process works, what the requirements are, and why garantie.be might be a faster and simpler alternative.

100% Online Alternative BNP Paribas Fortis website →
BNP Paribas Fortis processing time: 3 to 7 days
garantie.be: a few hours
No funds held in escrow

BNP Paribas Fortis Procedure

How to Freeze Your Funds at BNP Paribas Fortis?In-Person Only

BNP Paribas Fortis only offers account openings in person at a branch or post office, by appointment. On its own website, the bank directs customers in a hurry to e-DEPO rather than to its own product—an implicit admission that the process is slow.

1
Gather the necessary information

Your Belgian ID card, your landlord’s contact information (name, address, email), the address of the rental property, the lease term, and the amount of the rental guarantee (2 months in Brussels and Wallonia, 3 months in Flanders).

2
Schedule an appointment at a branch

Visit a BNP Paribas Fortis branch with your ID. The security deposit is deposited into a blocked account in the tenant’s name.

3
Obtaining the Certificate for the Landlord

BNP Paribas Fortis issues a certificate confirming that the guarantee has been properly established. This document must be provided to your landlord before signing the lease. Please allow 3 to 7 days to receive it.

Comparison

BNP Paribas Fortis Blocked Account vs. garantie.be

Rental Guarantee Savings Account

  • Extensive network of branches and post offices in Belgium
  • Regulated savings account (Category A), with no fees
  • Funds protected by deposit insurance up to €100,000
  • Accounts can only be opened at a branch or post office, by appointment
  • No online account management for the guaranteed account
  • BNP Paribas Fortis itself recommends e-DEPO for clients in a hurry
  • In-person visit required; cannot be done from your smartphone
QUICK ALTERNATIVE

garantie.be

  • No funds are locked up—your savings remain available
  • 100% online process, right from your smartphone
  • Response within a few hours, 7 days a week
  • No eID required—accessible to expats
  • Certificate sent directly to the landlord
Discover garantie.be

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About the BNP Paribas Fortis Rental Guarantee

Do you have to be a BNP Paribas Fortis customer to open a rental guarantee?

No, the rental guarantee is available to both customers and non-customers at a branch or post office by appointment.

Does BNP Paribas Fortis offer an online rental guarantee?

No. On its own website, BNP Paribas Fortis directs users to e-DEPO MyMinfin for the online application process. To open a blocked account with BNP Paribas Fortis, you must visit a branch.

How long does it take to open a rental guarantee with BNP Paribas Fortis?

Allow 3 to 7 business days from your branch appointment to open the account and generate the certificate for your landlord.

Get your rental guarantee in just a few hours

No funds tied up, no appointments, no trips. 100% online from your smartphone. Certificate sent directly to your landlord.

Find out how it works

FSMA-authorized broker · Compliant with Belgian law · Accepted by Belgian landlords