Bolero vs Keytrade

The overview

The table shows an overview of how Bolero compares to Keytrade for different criteria. Read on to get the full details!

Bolero

Story of Bolero 🇧🇪

Bolero is one of the first online brokers in Belgium and launched in 1999. The name Bolero stands for Belgian OnLine Exchange Realtime Operated. It's owned and run by KBC Bank and allows Belgians to invest in many different types of assets. Note that you don't have to be a KBC customer to use Bolero. Bolero has a wide range of ETFs to choose from and continues to be one of the most popular brokers in Belgium although it also charges some of the highest fees.

Fees for ETFs

Although Bolero recently reduced their pricing, unfortunately it's still one of the most expensive brokers in Belgium. As part of their new pricing, they launched the Bolero ETF playlist. Essentially, it reduces the price for a specific list of ETFs. They inspired themselves from DEGIRO's core selection in order to be competitive for more Belgians. For example, buying €1,000 of the IWDA ETF will cost you €5.00 in transaction fees.

Convenience

Bolero handles the transaction tax (TOB). They also automatically withhold and declare the 30% dividend tax on shares and distributing funds, as well as the Reynders tax on ETF profits. However, Bolero does not offer automated savings plans or fractional shares, which, combined with high fees, makes regular investing less practical, potentially necessitating larger, less frequent investments.

Setting up an account

Creating a new account with Bolero is easy with itsme, but requires a Belgian phone number, and offers both individual and joint account options, with joint accounts only creatable via computer. Account approval can take a few days, but for KBC customers, this process is faster and allows easy linking of KBC current accounts for transactions. Bolero does not provide accounts for children but you can set one up for your business.

Safety

Bolero, owned by Belgium's largest bank KBC, is regulated by the FSMA and has not had any known regulatory issues, providing a sense of safety for investors' assets. Bolero does not engage in securities lending or payment for order flow (PFOF).

The full review

Learn more about the pros and cons of Bolero in our review.

Keytrade

Story of Keytrade 🇧🇪🇫🇷

Keytrade was started in 1998 and was one of the first online brokers in Belgium. Their offer has grown a lot since then, as they propose full banking services today. In 2005, Keytrade Bank was acquired by Groupe Crelan (formerly Crédit Agricole) and is now part of the Crédit Mutuel Arkéa group. We're looking at Keytrade as a broker, not their investment plans such as Keyplan or Keyprivate.

Fees for ETFs

Despite reducing their fees in January 2025, Keytrade remains one of the more expensive brokers. Buying €1,000 of the popular IWDA ETF will cost you €5.95.

Convenience

Keytrade handles the stock transaction tax (TOB), automatically withholds and declars the 30% dividend tax, and handles the Reynders tax on ETF profits. However, Keytrade does not offer automated savings plans or fractional shares, making regular, smaller investments impractical due to high fees. Despite offering traditional support mechanisms like email and phone, Keytrade's customer service is not notably customer-centric, with potential delays in email responses.

Setting up an account

Creating a new Keytrade account is efficient thanks to itsme, as the traditional six-step process can be slow, with some users experiencing long waiting times for account approval. Account setup is only available on the web platform, not on mobile. Where Keytrade stands out is the ability to set up accounts for business, children and joint accounts.

Safety

Keytrade, regulated by the Belgian FSMA, has no known regulatory issues. As it's asubsidiary of the French Arkéa, Keytrade's clients benefit from the French Fonds de Garantie des Dépôts et de Résolution (FGDR), which protects assets up to €70,000. Keytrade does not engage in securities lending or payment for order flow (PFOF).

The full review

Learn more about the pros and cons of Keytrade in our review.

Summary

In this article we highlighted the key differences between Bolero and Keytrade, two brokers accessible to Belgians. Bolero is slightly more cost-effective way to invest your savings as their fees are a bit lower than Keytrade. But cost is not the only factor to take in consideration when you’re putting your savings to work. For instance, should also take into account the app experience. We built Curvo to make good investing easy and accessible to all Belgians, and we explained its benefits. Feel free to explore Curvo's app if you wish to learn more.

What you should do now

• Determine if you're more of an active or passive investor. Our comparison can help you decide.
• Consider if a broker is the right way for you to invest.
• If you want to manage your investments through a broker, assess if Bolero or Keytrade suits you better based on the pros and cons we highlighted. Or explore one of the many other brokers available to Belgians.
• But if you want to spend the least amount of time managing your investments, Curvo may be a fit!