ING Groep(US:ING)2025-07-31 08:02Financial 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 [2][3] - Fee income grew significantly by 12% year on year, with expectations for continued growth [2][10] - Total risk costs were €299 million this quarter, or 17 basis points of average customer lending, which is below the through-the-cycle average [13][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net core lending rose by €15.4 billion, driven by record growth in retail banking, which grew by over €11 billion [3][4] - Wholesale Banking also saw growth in net core lending, primarily driven by working capital solutions and short-term trade finance [4] - Fee growth in wholesale banking reached a quarterly record of $360 million, driven by strong fee income in lending, daily banking, and trade finance [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The retail banking business recorded strong commercial momentum, particularly in mortgages, with growth in loan books across most markets [3][4] - The demand for long-term corporate loans remained subdued due to ongoing economic uncertainty, impacting the wholesale banking segment [4][36] 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 [7][8] - The strategy includes diversifying services offered to existing customers and filling gaps in markets where the company is already active [44][45] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued commercial growth despite geopolitical and macroeconomic turmoil, expecting commercial NII to grow in the second half of the year [17][18] - The outlook for profitability in 2025 has improved, with an expected return on equity of around 12.5% [18] Other Important Information - The interim dividend for 2025 is set at $0.35 per share, to be paid on August 11 [16] - The company is focusing on expense management, with total expenses expected to end up at the lower end of the previously indicated range [12][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: FX sensitivity and corporate loan demand outlook - Management acknowledged the impact of an 8% reduction in the U.S. dollar against the euro, which affected NII and total revenue, and noted that corporate loan demand remains muted but could change with potential trade deals [21][25][36] Question: Commercial NII trends and guidance - Management confirmed that underlying trends in commercial NII are satisfactory, with positive volume growth, but long-term lending demand remains soft [30][36] 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 [42][44] Question: Liability margin guidance - Management stated that with the end of the German campaign, the liability margin is expected to return to around 100 basis points [108][110] Question: ROE guidance and expense management - Management explained that the improved ROE guidance is due to a combination of higher fee intensity and lower costs, with ongoing investments in digitalization and efficiency [118][120]