Full-year Results 2018 ING Belgium

In 2018, ING Belgium [1] achieved strong financial and business results thanks to the commitment of its people. As an important step in the transformation towards one integrated bank, the new business model was installed over the course of 2018.
Next to the transformation efforts, ING managed to grow its franchise further. Increased lending and deposit volumes were key in countering the continued pressure of low interest rate environment on ING’s results before tax.

Detailed press release hereunder.

Financial Results

• € 948 million underlying result before tax delivering Return on Equity of 10.6% [2]
• Results benefitted from a € 66 [3] million gain on an equity-linked  bond transaction
• Lending [4] at € 103.4 billion, an increase of 6.4% or € 6.2 billion compared to 2017
• Deposits at € 101.3 billion, an increase of 2.6% or € 2.5 billion compared to 2017
• Continued margin pressure on savings and current accounts as a result of the low interest rate environment and lower demand for retail investment products
• Balance sheet position remains strong, with capital and liquidity buffers well above regulatory requirements
• Operating expenses show decreasing trend while investing in the transformation

Commercial Results [5]

• Net increase of 123,000 ING Lion Accounts or +25.0%
• Net increase of 432,000 active customers or +17.4%
• Net increase of 179,000 primary customers or +14.3%
• Net increase of 285,000 new active mobile users or +36.2% with a record total of over 1 million

Building a Sustainable Business Model

• New business model installed 
• Uniting BE + NL 
• Strong people commitment
• Forward looking

 

[1] ING Belgium includes the ING entities active in banking and leasing in Belgium & Luxembourg, excluding foreign branches
[2] Return on equity based on 12% of Risk Weighted Assets (RWA)
[3] Gain on an equity-linked bond transaction in 4Q2018 of € 101 mln partly offset by fair value movements of the same equity-linked bond in 1Q2018 to 3Q2018
[4] Excluding overdraft facility for a major client due to its volatility
[5] The growth in active and primary customers and in active mobile users has been significantly impacted by the Record Bank integration