Crédit Anversois

The Crédit Anversois (lit. 'Credit [bank] of Antwerp') was a Belgian bank, founded in 1898 and liquidated in 1939-1941. Just before World War I, it was the fourth-largest bank by total assets in Antwerp, itself Belgium's second banking center behind Brussels.[1] By 1930, it had expanded so that it ranked fourth-largest in all of Belgium, only surpassed by the Société Générale de Belgique, Banque de Bruxelles, and Algemeene Bankvereeniging.

Name

Even though the bank was primarily active in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, it was referred to by its French name including in Dutch-speaking or English-speaking contexts.[1]

History

The Crédit Anversois was founded in 1898 with support from France's Comptoir national d'escompte de Paris, then soon counted Germany's Darmstädter Bank and Nationalbank für Deutschland among its shareholders, joined in 1911 by the Crédit Mobilier Français.[2] It initially engaged in industrial investment, but after losses in 1900-1901, pivoted instead towards commercial credit.[3]

On the eve of the First World War, Banque du Crédit Anversois adopted a policy of expansion, establishing a presence throughout Wallonia and setting up provincial branches such as the one in Verviers, Liège.[4]

Its head office was in Antwerp, at courte rue de l'Hôpital / Korte Gasthuisstraat 42,[5] in a building designed by architect Jan De Vroey. It also erected buildings at Bondgenotenlaan 54 in Leuven, at 133 Crapaurue in Verviers (built 1913-1914, arch. Charles Thirion), and at 4 boulevard d'Avroy in Liège

Leadership

Aviator Jean de Selys Longchamps worked for the Crédit Anversois before World War II.

• Astère Vercruysse de Solart, chairman 1898-1913
• Josse Allard, chairman ca. 1921

See also

• Banque Liégeoise
• Banque de Commerce
• Leon Van der Rest
• List of banks in Belgium