ING Group reported a third-quarter net result of €1,850 million, up 3.5% year on year, with a return on tangible equity of 16.3%. Having completed the share buyback it announced in April 2026, the group said it would make a further distribution of €1.9 billion, backed by a CET1 ratio of 13.3%.
Profit before tax increased 5.7% to €2,705 million and total income grew 5.6%. "ING has had a strong third quarter of 2026 as we continue to execute on our strategy and deliver solid commercial and financial performance," said Steven van Rijswijk, the chief executive. He was due to discuss the results with investors on a call on 29 October 2026.
MORE CUSTOMERS, MORE BALANCES
The bank added 259,000 mobile primary customers during the quarter, with strong contributions from Germany, the Netherlands and Romania. Net core lending grew by €11.0 billion and net core deposits by €12.1 billion.
In Retail Banking, the mortgage portfolio increased by €6.9 billion, part of lending growth of €8.5 billion, or 6% annualised. Deposits rose €2.7 billion despite seasonal holiday spending, while flows into investment products helped lift assets under management and e-brokerage by €6.7 billion to €328 billion, up 22% year on year.
SIMPLIFYING WHOLESALE
In Wholesale Banking, lending grew €2.5 billion on continued client demand. The bank also reported deposit growth of €9.4 billion, which it called good deposit-gathering momentum. Group fee income reached €1,273 million, up 9.3% year on year.
ING Bank's more than 60,000 employees serve retail and wholesale customers in over 100 countries. As part of its ambition to become the best European bank, the group said it is taking a next strategic step to simplify Wholesale Banking and make it easier for clients to do business with it.
COSTS, RISK AND CAPITAL
Operating expenses rose 1.1% from the previous quarter, as wage inflation in staff costs was partly offset by cost initiatives. Risk costs were affected by a management overlay, but excluding one-offs they stayed well below the bank's through-the-cycle average of 20 basis points of average customer lending. Other income was lower, reflecting heightened interest rate volatility, effects the bank expects to reverse over time.
The four-quarter rolling average return on tangible equity was 14.8%. During the quarter ING completed two significant risk-transfer transactions, which generated total risk-weighted asset relief of €3.0 billion.
THE TGB VIEW
ING ranks 12th in Europe in the TGB Bank Rankings, which rank banks by total assets, with US$1,238.9 billion and a return on equity of 12.7% for 2025. Its 16.3% return on tangible equity for the quarter, and 14.8% on a four-quarter rolling average, compare with the 22% that BBVA reported for the nine months to September. ING will update its strategy at its Capital Markets Day on 14 June 2027.
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