UPC-BVK

Presentation

UPC-BVK is the trade association representing the sector of lending to private persons, i.e. consumer credit and mortgage credit.

It is a constituent member of Febelfin, the Belgian Financial Sector Federation, together with the Belgian Bankers' and Stockbrokers' Association (ABB/BVB), the Belgian Leasing Association (BLA), the Belgian Asset Managers Association (BEAMA) and the Belgian Association of Stock Exchange Members (BASEM).

Together, the 54 members of UPC/BVK (as on 31 December 2019) represent more than 95% of the Belgian consumer credit market and about 90% of the Belgian mortgage credit market.

Member institutions of UPC/BVK are :

  • banks;
  • insurance companies;
  • financial institutions, some of which also offer leasing;
  • mortgage businesses;
  • credit insurers;
  • distribution companies or subsidiaries of distribution companies which are also authorised consumer credit providers;
  • companies issuing credit cards and privative cards.

UPC/BVK is an official interlocutor for negotiating with the political and supervisory authorities, the other trade associations and federations representing the financial sector, the consumer organisations as well as other stakeholders.

It keeps contact with the political decision makers and the supervisors in a number of specific matters, and is a permanent member of the Council for Consumption, the Insurance Commission, the Steering Committee of the Central Credit Register for private persons and the Fund against Overindebtedness.

The growing importance of European regulation explains its vast activities at the European level as a member of EUROFINAS (the European Association for consumer credit interests defending) and the EMF (the European Mortgage Federation) as well as its expert contribution to the process of implementing new Recommendations and Directives.

At the regional level, UPC/BVK is represented within the Board of the 'Observatoire du Crédit et de l'Endettement' non-profit association and the Board of 'Vlaams Centrum Schuldenlast'.

Finally, it also has a representative in the Mediation College and in the Ombudsfin Steering Committee.