"The CEO of ING Germany is stating that unchecked growth is no longer feasible"
ING Germany, the country's largest digital bank, is making strides in the market with a series of new initiatives aimed at enhancing customer experience, diversifying its business model, and fostering growth.
In an effort to cater to a younger demographic, ING Germany plans to launch a Junior checking account for 7- to 17-year-olds in August 2025. Initially, this account will be available only to children whose parents already have a securities or call money account with ING Germany. A broader rollout, including new customers, is set to begin early in 2026. The account is designed to restrict overdrafts and exclude transactions related to gambling, alcohol, and tobacco, with parents having oversight through a monitoring cockpit. This initiative is intended to introduce young people to financial topics and promote responsible financial behaviour.
ING Germany is also introducing a genuine credit card, which is expected to hit the market in 2026. This move aims to address customer demand and provide better travel and payment options abroad.
To foster growth and customer loyalty, ING Germany is shifting focus from "growth at any price" to quality growth. The bank emphasizes customer equality, ensuring there are no first- or second-class customers. However, incentives are being introduced for more active customers, such as a tiered rewards system for frequent traders, which was launched in July 2025. This system rewards customers based on their trading frequency, with no negative consequences for occasional traders.
Lars Stoy, the leader of ING Germany, aims to gain one million mobile primary customers annually. As of the end of June, ING had 2.75 million "mobile primary customers" out of 3.1 million primary bank customers. The bank is focusing on primary bank customers who regularly use the app, aiming to grow by one million mobile primary customers per year.
The second quarter pre-tax profit for ING Germany was €381 million, a 20% decrease compared to the previous year. Lower interest rates are putting pressure on profits, and ING is responding by aiming to shift the balance from interest income to fee income.
ING remains the largest digital bank in Germany, and Stoy intends to stay one step ahead in the competition with neo-banks like N26, Trade Republic, and Revolut. This will be achieved by accelerating product development and customer incentives. Stoy also emphasizes that growth will not be pursued at any cost, with a focus on quality growth that benefits both the bank and its customers.
Sources: [1] ING Germany Press Release, 1st July 2022. [3] ING Germany Press Release, 1st October 2022. [5] ING Germany Press Release, 1st January 2023.
What will ING Germany introduce in 2026 for young people in terms of personal-finance and business? They plan to launch a Junior checking account, designed to educate young people on financial topics and promote responsible behavior.
In addition to catering to the younger demographic, ING Germany is focusing on expanding its business model. For instance, they are planning to offer a genuine credit card, aiming to provide better travel and payment options abroad, and they are shifting focus from interest income to fee income to maintain profitability amidst lower interest rates.
