Belgian financial sector gets serious about autonomy: 2026 AI barometer reveals shift from chatbots to agentic systems
2026 AI Barometer Report
The 2026 AI Barometer, released today by FinTech Belgium, Sailpeak, and Vlerick Business School, reveals a sector-wide move toward "Agentic AI", systems capable of managing complex, multi-step tasks independently. However, addressing an anticipated reduction of up to 10% in headcount over the next 3 years is a high agenda priority, with 80% of institutions now needing to build strategic workforce plans to manage this evolution.
Brussels, June 18, 2026 - FinTech Belgium, the national federation for financial technology, in partnership with Sailpeak, a specialised AI strategy consulting firm, and Vlerick Business School, today announced the release of the 2026 AI Barometer for the Belgian financial sector. The 3rd edition of this landmark study highlights a nascent transition from generative assistance toward strategic autonomy and agentic deployment.
Following years of experimentation and the focus on ROI in 2025, the 2026 report paints a picture of a sector that has industrialised AI. Institutions like Belfius and Ethias are no longer merely testing the technology but are deploying "super agents" for customers and internal "agent stores" that empower thousands of employees to automate their own workflows. However, this maturity brings new challenges, including a shortening technology lifecycle and the need for accountability in autonomous systems.
Key Findings of the 2026 AI Barometer:
Accelerating AI investment and ROI: AI profitability targets have increased from 47% of institutions seeking a positive ROI in 2025 to 75% in 2026, with 50% now aiming for returns of at least 2x. Concurrently, the average annual growth in AI investment is projected to accelerate from 33% in 2026 to 48% in 2027.
GenAI expanding to Core processes: GenAI deployment is migrating beyond initial successes in customer service and coding toward core financial processes such as claims processing (67% deploying), KYC/ALM (46% deploying) and underwriting (64% in pilot).
The dawn of Agentic AI for clients: Leading Belgian banks are deploying multi-agent architectures that orchestrate specialised sub-agents. Features such as natural language querying of personal bank transactions are now moving from concept to production, representing a unique advancement in the Belgian market.
The democratisation of innovation for collaborators: Platforms like “Power Up” at Belfius are putting agentic AI tools in the hands of 10,000 non-technical employees, allowing them to automate repetitive administrative tasks through visual interfaces and natural language.
The Workforce Planning gap: With 60% of the sector anticipating up to a 10% headcount reduction within 3 years, 80% of institutions recognise they must still build formal strategic workforce plans to define and manage this transition.
Expert Commentary:
"At Ethias, the goal is not AI for the sake of it. The goal is better customer experience. The goal is better autonomy for our people. The technology should always serve the outcome, not the other way around," said Ariane Berckmoes, Chief Digital & Transformation Officer at Ethias.
"For Belfius, the goal is to make AI accessible and functional for every customer and employee," noted Jonathan Neubourg, Head of ReBel and AI & Tech Lab at Belfius.
"The Belgian financial ecosystem is showing a remarkable level of maturity in its adoption of agentic technology," commented Raf De Kimpe, CEO of FinTech Belgium.
"As AI systems gain more initiative and autonomy, the role of leadership becomes even more critical," added Prof. Bjorn Cumps from Vlerick Business School.
"The challenges highlighted in this year's Barometer, particularly around legacy integration and the short lifecycle of AI models, are where specialised expertise becomes essential," said Nico Vincent, Founding Partner of Sailpeak.
About FinTech Belgium
FinTech Belgium is the independent federation by and for fintechs active in Belgium. Created in 2015, it is the largest community of financial professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors in the country.
For more info: www.fintechbelgium.be
About Vlerick Business School
Vlerick Business School is a top-ranked, triple-accredited international business school at the heart of Europe. Consistently ranked by the Financial Times as the #1 school in Belgium and among the top 25 in Europe, Vlerick is part of a select group of schools worldwide that hold the "triple crown" of EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB accreditations. With campuses in Brussels, Ghent, and Leuven, the school focuses on a transformative learning experience that bridges academic research with business practice, co-creating research agendas with its corporate partners to navigate digital transformation and strategic challenges.
For more info: www.vlerick.com
About Sailpeak
Sailpeak is a Brussels-based consulting firm specializing in AI strategy and digital transformation for the banking and insurance sectors. Founded by entrepreneurs and industry veterans, Sailpeak helps institutions navigate the complexities of AI to drive measurable business impact.
For more info: www.sailpeak.com
Contacts
Nico Vincent
Founding Partner, Sailpeak
+32 (0)476 48 78 24
Raf De Kimpe
CEO, FinTech Belgium
+32 (0)472 36 37 17
Bjorn Cumps
Prof. and Partner, Vlerick Business School
+32 (0)478 55 19 30
