ING posts 4Q2021 net result of €945 million, FY2021 net result of €4,776 million

“I’m particularly satisfied with the consistent growth we’ve recorded in our diversifying sources of income. Fee income rose 17% in 2021 compared to a year earlier and contributed 19% to our total full-year income. This has been supported by our customers’ changing preferences in the low-interest environment and by an expansion in our range of investment products. In Germany, thanks to products and services like digital advice and our cooperation with an online investment manager, we now have more than two million investment-product accounts, an increase of 21% in 2021 compared to last year.

“Smart and easy digital investment products help us to establish and deepen primary banking relationships, as do continuous improvements to the seamless digital experience we offer. For example, the mortgage application process in the Netherlands has been made less complex as customers can now easily collect and submit necessary data in an app directly from various government sources – saving time for both the customer and the bank, and increasing the number of customer applications that are ‘first time right’. We gained 481,000 primary customers in 2021, bringing the total number to 14.3 million, 3.5% higher than at end-2020.

“Unfortunately, there are also times when we have to make difficult decisions that affect our customers and colleagues. Following the strategic review announced in June, we decided to exit the retail banking market in France. This follows earlier decisions to exit the retail banking markets of Austria and the Czech Republic, after we determined that reaching the required local scale within a reasonable timeframe was unlikely. We believe these are the best strategic decisions for ING, allowing us to redeploy capital and resources to grow other areas of our business. I’m very grateful to our colleagues in France, Austria and the Czech Republic, for their ongoing customer commitment during times of professional and personal disruption.

“Looking ahead to 2022, ING is well prepared to navigate the current operating environment, with solid capital buffers, a strong risk profile and a focus on execution, supported by our talented and motivated colleagues across the globe. We will continue to strengthen our ESG profile and deliver on our sustainability commitments. We supported 317 sustainability deals in 2021, which is almost two-and-a-half times the number of last year. We’re also helping clients in the transition to a low-carbon world in line with our Terra approach. As the urgency for climate action increases, corporations, governments and regulators have to work together to define new ways of doing business that align economic growth with positive environmental and social impact – and ING is determined to continue to have a leading role in this collaborative approach.“