ING Groep(US:ING)2025-07-31 08:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total income increased compared to the previous quarter, with commercial net interest income (NII) supported by the repricing of customer deposits and continued volume growth, which almost fully compensated for the impact of the lower ECB deposit facility rate and a stronger euro [1][2] - Fee income grew significantly by 12% year on year, with expectations for continued growth [1][2] - Total risk costs were €299 million this quarter, or 17 basis points of average customer lending, which is below the through-the-cycle average [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net core lending rose by €15.4 billion, driven by record growth in retail lending, which increased by over €11 billion [2][3] - Wholesale Banking also saw growth in net core lending, primarily driven by working capital solutions and short-term trade finance [3] - Fee growth in wholesale banking reached a quarterly record of $360 million, driven by strong fee income in lending, daily banking, and trade finance [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The retail banking business recorded strong commercial momentum, with core deposits increasing by more than €6 billion this quarter [3] - The demand for long-term corporate loans remained subdued due to ongoing economic uncertainty, particularly in Germany [3][22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to allocate more capital towards the more profitable retail banking business, with a target of 55% retail and 45% wholesale by 2027 [5][6] - The strategy includes diversifying services offered to existing customers and targeting specific customer segments such as Gen Z and affluent clients [46] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in generating continued commercial growth despite geopolitical and macroeconomic turmoil, with expectations for commercial NII to grow in the second half of the year [16] - The company expects to deliver a healthy return on equity of around 12.5% in 2025, supported by improved profitability outlook [17] Other Important Information - The interim dividend for 2025 is set at $0.35 per share, continuing the company's track record of providing attractive returns to shareholders [15] - The company is investing in digitalization and operational efficiencies to manage costs effectively, with a focus on enhancing customer acquisition and tech platform scaling [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: FX sensitivity and revenue/cost mix disclosure - Management acknowledged the impact of an 8% reduction in the U.S. dollar against the euro, which had a €37 million negative impact on NII and an overall impact of around $60 million to $70 million on total revenue [25][26] Question: Corporate loan demand and future outlook - Management noted that while there was some growth in the wholesale bank, long-term loan demand remains muted, and it is too early to predict changes in this trend [22][23] Question: Commercial NII trends and guidance - Management confirmed that the underlying trends in commercial NII are satisfactory, with expectations for a 2.5% to 5% quarter-on-quarter improvement in Q4 [30][38] Question: Deposit strategy and M&A focus - Management indicated that there were no major deposit campaigns in Q2, and the focus is on diversifying services and targeting specific customer segments rather than pursuing M&A aggressively [43][46] Question: Liability margin guidance - Management stated that the liability margin is expected to stabilize around 100 basis points, with the end of the German campaign contributing to this stability [109][111] Question: ROE guidance and factors influencing it - Management explained that the improved ROE outlook is driven by a combination of higher fee intensity and operating within the lower end of cost guidance [119]