What is the CPC Register?
The CPC register centralises information on bank accounts held at financial institutions in Belgium, by both Belgian and foreign individuals or legal entities. It also includes data on foreign bank accounts held by Belgian taxpayers subject to personal income tax.
Although the Law of 15 May 2024 (published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 28 May 2024) had already introduced this possibility, technical implementation followed only recently. The system is now fully operational.
What changes for court bailiffs?
Thanks to this new access, bailiffs can now, before executing a post-judgment garnishment, directly:
- identify all banks where the debtor holds one or more accounts;
- request the corresponding IBAN numbers;
- obtain balance information on those accounts.
This includes foreign accounts held by individuals. For those, enforcement can proceed via the European cross-border garnishment procedure.
(!) Important note:
The balance data may not reflect real-time amounts. The CPC register is updated only twice a year — on 30 June and 31 December — so actual balances at the time of seizure may differ.
No direct access for pre-judgment garnishment
In cases of pre-judgment (conservatory) garnishment, bailiffs do not have direct access to the CPC. Instead, the creditor must apply through the Attachment Judge, who may authorise access via the National Chamber — the only body authorised to provide CPC data in such cases (Article 1447 of the Judicial Code).
Conclusion
The digitalisation and centralisation of banking data through the CPC represent a significant step forward in the efficiency, transparency, and speed of judgment enforcement.
Our insolvency and enforcement team closely follows these developments and is available to advise or assist you with any related questions.
