Question 1

What is ING?

Accepted Answer

ING is Germany's third-largest bank by customer count and the country's largest direct bank, serving over 10 million customers as of 2025. Officially registered as ING-DiBa AG, the bank operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Dutch ING Groep, offering a comprehensive range of retail banking, business banking, and wholesale banking services.

As a direct bank without physical branch locations, ING focuses on digital-first banking solutions that provide convenience and cost-efficiency to German consumers and businesses. With total assets exceeding €200 billion, ING ranks among the top ten banks in Germany by asset size.

Question 2

When was ING founded?

Accepted Answer

ING was founded in 1965 as Bank für Sparanlagen und Vermögensbildung AG (BSV) in Frankfurt am Main. The bank was established under the leadership of Georg Leber, then chairman of the IG Bau-Steine-Erden trade union, with the original purpose of providing German workers access to a banking institution where they could save their newly introduced vermögenswirksame Leistungen (employer-sponsored savings contributions) of seven Deutsche Marks per month.

In 1994, the bank rebranded as Deutsche Direktbank AG, later changing to Allgemeine Deutsche Direktbank AG following a legal challenge from Deutsche Bank. The bank adopted the DiBa name (short for Direktbank) in 1999.

The transformation into its current form began in 1998 when the Dutch ING Groep acquired 49% of the shares. ING acquired an additional 21% in 2002 and completed full ownership by 2003. The bank operated as ING-DiBa from 2004, officially becoming ING-DiBa AG in July 2005. In November 2018, the bank simplified its brand name to ING to align with its parent company's global branding strategy.

Question 3

Where is ING headquartered?

Accepted Answer

ING is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, with its main office located at Theodor-Heuss-Allee.

Question 4

Where does ING operate?

Accepted Answer

ING operates throughout Germany as a nationwide direct bank without physical branch locations. The bank maintains four major office locations across Germany: its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, along with offices in Berlin, Hanover, and Nuremberg.

Berlin hosts two specialized locations: a corporate representation office and a Business Banking center following the integration of the fintech company Lendico. The Hanover location was established following the 1999 acquisition of Bank GiroTel, while the Nuremberg office resulted from the 2003 takeover of Entrium Direct Bankers AG (formerly Quelle Bank).

ING operates more than 1,000 proprietary ATMs across Germany, and its customers can withdraw cash fee-free at any ATM in the Eurozone using their ING Visa debit card.

Question 5

What services does ING offer?

Accepted Answer

ING offers a comprehensive suite of banking services across three main segments:

Retail Banking: Current accounts (Girokonto), savings accounts (Extra-Konto), time deposit accounts, consumer loans, car loans, and mortgage financing. The bank also provides brokerage services including investment accounts, securities trading, and investment advice through partnerships with platforms like Scalable Capital.

Business Banking: Services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and self-employed individuals, including business current accounts, interest-bearing business call deposit accounts, and business loans up to €750,000. Following the 2018 acquisition and 2022 integration of Lendico, ING has expanded its lending solutions for entrepreneurs, including direct financing for Amazon sellers.

Wholesale Banking: Corporate banking services for large international companies, established in Germany in 2011. Services include corporate lending, transaction services, structured and project financing, export finance, and capital market solutions. ING operates regional wholesale banking offices in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, and Stuttgart.

Digital Services: ING pioneered digital banking in Germany with fully digital account opening via video identification, mobile banking apps with fingerprint authentication, photo-based money transfers, instant payments, and integration with Apple Pay and Google Pay. The bank introduced innovative tools like the Digital Income Check for instant loan verification and the DiBadurchblicker financial planning app.

Question 6

What makes ING unique?

Accepted Answer

ING distinguishes itself through several key characteristics:

Pure Direct Banking Model: As Germany's largest direct bank, ING operates without expensive branch networks, passing cost savings directly to customers through competitive rates and low or no fees. This pioneering approach has made quality banking accessible to millions of Germans.

Digital Innovation Leadership: ING has consistently led German banking digitalization, introducing Germany's first fully digital account opening process in 2017, implementing video-based customer identification, and launching cutting-edge mobile banking features. The bank became the first major German bank to resume paying interest on daily savings accounts in December 2022.

Market Leadership: With nearly 10 million customers, ING is not only Germany's largest direct bank but also Europe's largest direct bank. The bank holds a commanding position in the German call money (savings) market and has become one of Germany's leading mortgage lenders.

Customer-Centric Approach: ING has earned the reputation as "Deutschlands beliebteste Bank" (Germany's Most Popular Bank), first achieving this recognition in 2007 and maintaining high customer satisfaction scores through transparent pricing, straightforward products, and exceptional service quality.

Heritage of Accessibility: From its founding mission to provide banking access to all German workers, ING has maintained its commitment to financial inclusion and simplicity, offering uncomplicated banking products that customers can manage independently via internet, telephone, or mobile app.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is ING?

Accepted Answer

ING is a Direktbank (direct bank) and Kreditinstitut (credit institution) under German banking regulation. As a CRD credit institution (CRDCREINS), ING-DiBa AG is fully licensed to operate as a universal bank in Germany, supervised by the European Central Bank (ECB) as its competent authority and protected by the German deposit guarantee scheme (Entschädigungseinrichtung deutscher Banken GmbH).

The direct bank classification means ING operates without physical branch offices, delivering all banking services through remote channels including digital platforms, telephone, and mail. This business model emphasizes efficiency, scalability, and customer convenience while maintaining full banking capabilities including deposit-taking, lending, payment services, and investment products.

ING is a member of the Bundesverband deutscher Banken (Association of German Banks) and holds a Moody's rating of Aa3 for long-term counterparty risk assessment, reflecting high credit quality and financial strength.

Question 8

How has ING grown through acquisitions?

Accepted Answer

ING's expansion in Germany has been significantly shaped by strategic acquisitions that strengthened its market position. In 1999, the bank acquired Bank GiroTel from Bankgesellschaft Berlin, establishing its Hanover presence. The most significant acquisition came in July 2003 when ING took over Entrium Direct Bankers AG, Germany's second-largest direct bank at the time, which had been founded in 1990 as Quelle Bank.

This merger added approximately three million customers and the Nuremberg location to ING's operations. In 2018, ING acquired the fintech company Lendico from Berlin to expand its business banking capabilities for SMEs and self-employed professionals, completing full integration by August 2022. Through its sister company relationship, ING also works closely with Interhyp, Germany's largest mortgage broker.

Question 9

What sustainability initiatives does ING support?

Accepted Answer

ING demonstrates strong commitment to sustainable finance and corporate responsibility in Germany. The bank established a Green Pfandbrief (green covered bond) program with an ING Global Green Funding Framework, issuing green bonds to finance environmentally sustainable mortgages and projects.

ING has been a main sponsor of the German wheelchair basketball national teams since 2005, demonstrating long-term commitment to inclusive sports. The bank's "DiBaDu und dein Verein" initiative, launched in 2011, has provided funding of €1,000 each to over 1,000 local sports clubs and community organizations across Germany.

In 2023, ING introduced the Girokonto Future, a sustainable current account option, and transitioned all new bank card production to recycled plastic (rPVC) in 2024. The bank has eliminated custody fees (Verwahrentgelt) for all customers and was among the first major German banks to resume paying competitive interest rates on savings accounts following the end of the ECB's negative interest rate policy.

ING

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About ING in Germany