More and more Belgians are equipping themselves with a safe at home. There are fewer and more expensive rentals in banks.
Guaranteeing the security of your valuables yourself is becoming increasingly popular. Jacques has been the owner of a security equipment store for 40 years. He sees it: having a safe at home is trendy. “It sells all the time, a little more every year“, says Jacques Verly, administrator of a security equipment store.
Individuals are even developing strategies to further secure their assets. “There’s the good big chest that’s full of pennies inside, and then you’ve got one that’s stashed somewhere.“
According to the sellers, different elements explain this growing success: the accessibility of the safe which is unlimited, unlike bank branches, but also the cost which can turn out to be more advantageous than a long term rental in branch. On the side of the banks, we confirm this not very encouraging trend for the sector. “We really saw a decrease in the number of safes rented in the bank, explains Rodolphe de Pierpont, spokesperson for Febelfin. Some agencies have also deleted their vault, but today we keep the possibility for those who wish to have a safe with a banking institution.“
At ING, for example, the number of rented safes fell by 4% in one year. At BNP Paribas Fortis, it is minus 2%. Renting a safe at the bank still has advantages: comprehensive insurance, expert advice and the risk of less than a burglary at home.
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