ING Review 2026: Our Complete Analysis

Last updated: January 2026 | view the full broker profile

This ING review covers everything retail investors in Europe need to know before opening a brokerage account. ING Bank N.V. is not a typical online broker — it is one of the largest systemic banks in Europe, offering integrated investment services through its Self Invest platform in the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. If you are looking for a safe, bank-backed investment account with access to global stock markets, this review of ING will help you decide whether it fits your profile.

About ING

ING was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is listed on Euronext Amsterdam under the ticker INGA.AS, with a market capitalisation of approximately 50 billion EUR. The bank serves more than 38 million clients across markets including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Austria, and Italy.

Its investment offering is structured locally:

• ING Self Invest (NL/DE/AT) — the most complete brokerage product
• ING Beleggen (BE) — Belgian investment platform
• ING Direct France — closed in 2022; clients were transferred to Boursorama

ING targets integrated banking clients, not active traders. Its brokerage product sits alongside current accounts, mortgages, and savings products.

Regulation and Fund Security

ING is among the most heavily regulated financial institutions in Europe. It holds a full banking licence supervised by three separate authorities simultaneously.

Is ING safe? By any objective standard, yes. It is supervised at the ECB level under the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), which applies only to systemically important banks. Client funds are separated, and protection applies as follows:

• Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS): up to 100,000 EUR per client
• Investor compensation: up to 20,000 EUR on investment assets

Negative balance protection is not available, which is consistent with a cash market (no leverage) model — you cannot owe more than you invest.

Trading Conditions

ING Self Invest operates on a cash market model with fixed commissions. There are no spreads in the forex or CFD sense. This is a stock and fund broker, not a derivatives broker.

Commission Structure

Key trading parameters:

• Minimum trade size: 1 share
• Leverage (retail): none — cash market only
• Leverage (via structured products): variable via turbos/warrants
• Scalping: not permitted
• Hedging: not permitted
• Automated trading (EAs): not permitted
• Trailing stop: available
• Guaranteed stop: not available

For long-term investors, the DCA investment plan with 0 EUR commissions on over 100 ETFs is genuinely competitive. For active or short-term traders, the per-order fee structure is expensive relative to dedicated online brokers.

Trading Platforms

ING does not offer MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or any third-party professional trading terminal. Its platforms are proprietary and bank-focused.

The web platform and mobile app provide access to order placement, portfolio tracking, and DCA plan management. Neither platform includes advanced charting, technical indicators, or algorithmic trading tools. The experience is designed for occasional investors, not active market participants.

Tradable Instruments

ING Self Invest provides access to 22 global exchanges, which is a meaningful breadth for a bank-based platform.

The total universe of instruments is listed as 15,000+ instruments including stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, and options. Traders seeking forex, CFDs, or cryptocurrency exposure will need to look elsewhere.

Deposits and Withdrawals

ING keeps its funding process simple and free of charge.

Deposit methods:

• SEPA bank transfer
• iDEAL (Netherlands)
• Bank card

Withdrawal:

• Minimum deposit: 0 EUR (50 EUR for DCA investment plans)
• Deposit fee: 0 EUR
• Withdrawal fee: 0 EUR
• Inactivity fee: none
• Base currency: EUR only

The absence of inactivity fees and withdrawal charges is a positive feature, particularly for buy-and-hold investors who may not trade frequently.

Customer Support and Education

Support hours: Monday–Friday, 08:00–22:00

Contact channels:

• Email
• Telephone
• Physical branches

Languages supported: Dutch, English, German, Spanish, Polish, Italian

Support quality reflects ING's banking infrastructure — multiple contact channels and a broad language range. Branch access is available in core markets, which distinguishes ING from pure-play online brokers.

Education:

• Demo account: not available
• eBooks: limited
• Videos: limited
• Webinars: limited

Educational resources are minimal compared to dedicated brokers. ING offers basic guidance suited to its banking clients, not structured learning for new traders.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Systemic bank with 38 million+ clients — high institutional credibility
• Listed on Euronext (INGA.AS) — full financial transparency
• Triple-layer regulation: DNB, AFM, and ECB/SSM
• Access to 22 global exchanges and 15,000+ instruments
• DCA investment plans on 100+ ETFs at 0 EUR commission
• No minimum deposit, no inactivity fees, free withdrawals
• Branch network for in-person support

Cons:

• ING Direct France closed in 2022 — not available to French clients
• Not accessible across all EU countries
• Commission fees of 7.50–15 EUR per order are high versus neobrokers
• No CFDs, no forex, no crypto
• No professional or advanced trading platform
• No fractional shares
• No demo account

FAQ

Is ING a regulated broker? ING Bank N.V. holds a full banking licence supervised by the DNB and the AFM in the Netherlands, and is also supervised at the European level by the ECB under the Single Supervisory Mechanism. It is among the most regulated financial institutions available to retail investors in Europe.

What are ING's trading fees? For ING Self Invest (NL/DE), the standard commission is 7.50 EUR plus 0.05% on Euronext, and 10–15 EUR for US or other international markets. ETF investment plans (DCA) on a selection of 100+ ETFs are commission-free.

Does ING offer CFDs or forex trading? No. ING does not offer CFDs, spot forex, or cryptocurrency products. It is a cash market broker for stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, and funds.

Is ING available outside the Netherlands and Germany? ING's most complete brokerage product (Self Invest) is available in the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. Belgian clients can use ING Beleggen. ING Direct in France was closed in 2022, with clients transferred to Boursorama. Availability varies by country.

What investor protection applies to ING accounts? Clients benefit from the local Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS) up to 100,000 EUR for deposits, and investor compensation up to 20,000 EUR on investment assets.

Verdict

Final score: 7/10

ING reviewed 2026 presents a clear picture: this is a Tier-1 European bank offering solid, safe, and accessible investment services for long-term investors already within its banking ecosystem. The regulatory framework is as strong as it gets in Europe. The breadth of instruments — 22 exchanges, 1,500+ bonds, 5,000+ options — is impressive for a bank-based platform.

However, ING is not designed for active traders. Per-order commissions of 7.50–15 EUR are uncompetitive against neobrokers like DEGIRO or Trade Republic. The absence of CFDs, forex, crypto, a demo account, and any professional trading platform means a significant portion of the retail trading audience is simply not the target client.

If you are a European investor looking for a buy-and-hold account integrated with your everyday banking — particularly in the Netherlands, Germany, or Austria — ING Self Invest is a credible and trustworthy option. If you trade frequently or need derivative products, look elsewhere.

Article by the Analyse Trading team (@analysetrading) · Updated 01/2026 · view the full broker profile

Disclaimer: Trading involves high risk of capital loss. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.