📅 Last updated: 8 May 2026
· 🏷 Topic: MeDirect, ETF, broker review
· 🇧🇪 For: Belgian retail investors
MeDirect is a Belgian bank (MeDirect Bank SA), incorporated under Belgian law. Since 10 September 2025, MeDirect is part of the CREDITAS Group — a Czech privately-owned banking group (Banka CREDITAS a.s.) that acquired MDB Group Limited, the holding company of both MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc and MeDirect Bank SA Belgium. Active in Belgium since 2015 with its own FSMA licence, with a strong focus on ETF investing and low fees.
Key facts
- Type: Belgian bank (MeDirect Bank SA); part of the Czech CREDITAS Group since 10 September 2025 (MeDirect Bank Malta plc is now a sister entity within the same group).
- Regulation: FSMA + NBB (Belgian bank under Belgian law); part of a group also subject to ECB SSM supervision.
- Protection scheme: Belgian (€100k cash + €20k securities)
- Interface: NL + FR + EN
- Mobile app: yes
- Specialty: ETF platform — all ETFs commission-free (permanent, unrestricted; all exchanges, any time, no plan required; effective 26 August 2025).
Fee structure
MeDirect’s strong point:
- All ETF transactions commission-free — permanent, unlimited, across all exchanges and at any time, with no plan requirement. Introduced on 26 August 2025 (MeDirect official tariff document).
- For individual stocks: 0.15% per transaction, minimum €7 EUR on European exchanges (Euronext Brussels/Amsterdam/Paris, Xetra, Borsa Italiana, etc.); minimum $7 USD on US exchanges. No tiered schedule by order size.
- Dormant account fee: 10% of assets held at MeDirect, maximum €200 (general banking fees — see the official tariff sheet).
Always verify current pricing on MeDirect’s official tariff document and at medirect.be.
Tax handling
| Status | |
|---|---|
| TOB | ✅ Automatic |
| Withholding tax 30% | ✅ Automatic |
| Belgian tax certificate | ✅ Complete |
| New 2026 capital gains tax | ✅ Automatic withholding from 1 June 2026 (opt-out possible until 31 August 2026). Gains realised between 1 January and 31 May 2026 are NOT automatically withheld — self-reporting required in the annual tax return. Law voted by Parliament on 3 April 2026. |
No NBB declaration required — Belgian bank.
Strengths
- All ETFs commission-free (since August 2025, no plan required) — one of the lowest-cost Belgian options for ETF investing.
- Monthly investing programmes — automatic monthly contributions to the desired ETF.
- Belgian tax handling — comparable to Bolero and Keytrade.
- NL/FR/EN interface.
- Strong savings account — often higher interest rates than the large Belgian banks.
Weaknesses
- More limited market access than Saxo or IBKR.
- No extremely advanced tools for active traders.
- Sometimes longer waiting times with customer support during peak moments.
Who is it suitable for?
- ✅ Long-term ETF investor with monthly contributions
- ✅ Anyone wanting a specific ETF list without paying commissions
- ✅ Anyone wanting Belgian tax handling
- ✅ English/French-speaking expats
Not for:
- ❌ Active traders with daily transactions
- ❌ Anyone needing very advanced charting tools
- ❌ Anyone needing to trade internationally from Hong Kong to New York
Practical: getting started
- Online registration via medirect.be (~15 min).
- ID verification via itsme® or upload.
- MiFID II questionnaire.
- Two options:
– Manual investing — choose each purchase yourself
– Monthly investing plan — automatic monthly contributions to a chosen ETF (commission-free for the specific list)
Comparison with Bolero/Keytrade
| Bolero | Keytrade | MeDirect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard ETF fee | ~€5.00 (Playlist) / ~€7.50 (off-playlist) | €5.95 (orders up to €2,500), tiered higher above | €0 (all ETFs) |
| Commission-free ETF | Periodic | Periodic | All ETFs permanent (no plan required, since August 2025) |
| ETF focus | General | General | Strong |
| Belgian tax handling | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
💡 For anyone deliberately choosing ETF investing with no need for individual stock trading: MeDirect is possibly the most tax- and cost-efficient Belgian option. For anyone also actively wanting individual stocks: Bolero or Keytrade often better.
🔗 See Bolero vs Keytrade vs DEGIRO (NL) and Investing in Belgium (NL).
Frequently asked questions
Is MeDirect a Belgian bank and who regulates it?
Yes. MeDirect Bank SA is incorporated under Belgian law with its own FSMA + NBB licence, active in Belgium since 2015. Since 10 September 2025, MeDirect is part of the CREDITAS Group — a Czech privately-owned banking group (Banka CREDITAS a.s.) that acquired MDB Group Limited, holding company of both MeDirect Bank Malta plc and MeDirect Bank SA Belgium. The group is also subject to ECB SSM supervision.
How much does MeDirect cost for ETF investing?
All ETF transactions are commission-free — permanent, unlimited, across all exchanges and at any time, with no plan requirement. This was introduced on 26 August 2025. Belgian investors can buy VWCE, IWDA and any other listed ETF with zero commission, only paying the applicable TOB. This is one of the lowest-cost Belgian options for pure ETF investing.
What does MeDirect charge for individual stocks?
Individual shares cost 0.15% per transaction with a minimum of €7 EUR on European exchanges (Euronext Brussels/Amsterdam/Paris, Xetra, Borsa Italiana, etc.) and a minimum of $7 USD on US exchanges. There is no tiered schedule by order size — the 0.15% applies uniformly, with the minimum kicking in for small orders. A dormant account fee of 10% of assets held (maximum €200) applies under general banking fees.
Does MeDirect handle Belgian taxes automatically?
Yes, fully. MeDirect withholds TOB automatically, withholds the 30% dividend withholding tax automatically, and issues a complete Belgian tax certificate. For the new 2026 capital gains tax, MeDirect will withhold automatically from 1 June 2026 (opt-out possible until 31 August 2026). Gains realised between 1 January and 31 May 2026 are NOT automatically withheld — those require self-reporting in your annual tax return.
Do I need to declare my MeDirect account to the NBB?
No. Because MeDirect Bank SA is a Belgian bank under Belgian law with its own FSMA licence, it is not a foreign account. No NBB Central Point of Contact (CAP) registration is required, and there is no need to fill in box XIII code 1075-89 of the personal income tax return for this account — that obligation only applies to accounts held abroad (e.g. DEGIRO, Trade Republic, IBKR).
Is my money at MeDirect protected if the bank fails?
Yes — under the Belgian Beschermingsfonds voor Deposito’s en Financiële Instrumenten. Cash deposits are protected up to €100,000 per person per institution, and financial instruments (shares, ETFs on the account) up to €20,000 in case of insolvency of the bank. This is the same protection scheme that covers Bolero (KBC) and other Belgian-licensed bank-brokers.
Who is MeDirect best for and who should look elsewhere?
Best for: long-term ETF investors making monthly contributions, anyone wanting a specific ETF list without paying commissions, anyone wanting full Belgian tax handling (TOB + dividends + CGT automated), and English/French-speaking expats (NL/FR/EN interface). Not suitable for: active day-traders needing very advanced charting tools, investors needing global market access from Hong Kong to New York, and anyone wanting individual-stock trading with tiered pricing — Bolero or Keytrade are often better fits.
Sources
- MeDirect — Official site
- FSMA — MeDirect Bank register
- Curvo — MeDirect review
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