meta_id 3237221

On June 12, 2026, the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) announced that the banker's oath will extend to approximately 30,000 bankers from July 15, 2026. The banker's oath is a disciplinary regime that establishes personal liability for bankers, requiring them to act with integrity and professionalism while treating clients honestly and fairly. The FSMA introduced the banker's oath for certain categories of bankers in early 2025. The expansion effective July 15, 2026, will broaden the regime to encompass all targeted bankers within Belgium's financial services sector. The oath creates a framework of personal accountability, ensuring that individual bankers comply with core standards of conduct and ethical behaviour. By establishing personal liability, the regime aims to strengthen professional standards across the banking industry and enhance consumer protection through individual accountability rather than relying solely on institutional compliance measures. The FSMA has provided clarification on key obligations under the extended banker's oath regime to support implementation. Bankers subject to the oath must understand their personal responsibilities and the conduct standards they must maintain. The extension represents a significant shift in Belgium's regulatory approach to banking conduct, affecting a substantial portion of the country's banking workforce. Financial institutions and their employees should review the FSMA's guidance on the banker's oath to ensure compliance ahead of the July 15, 2026, effective date. Additional details regarding specific obligations and implementation requirements are available through the FSMA's French and Dutch language resources.