Amsterdam, 26 October 2009

ING announced today that it will move towards a separation of its banking and insurance operations, clarifying the strategic direction for the bank and the insurance company going forward. This also leads to changes in the structure and composition of the respective Management Boards.

Since the announcement of the Back to Basics strategy in April, ING has made significant progress in strengthening the financials in the bank by reducing and deleveraging the balance sheet, lowering costs and reducing the workforce. As announced in April, ING will integrate its banking operations into one bank, with one management team and one balance sheet, as part of its strategy to become predominantly a European retail and commercial bank with selective growth options elsewhere. In retail banking, the distribution models of traditional branch networks and direct banking are converging. Clients increasingly search for simple, straight-forward products at a fair price, delivered through a channel suited to their own preferences for advice capabilities and opening hours.

Given these trends, ING has decided to bring together all its retail banking activities, including ING Direct. While maintaining their status as individual businesses, this structure allows them to increase cooperation and take full advantage of each other’s strengths and expertise. ING has the ambition to deliver a superior customer experience and cost leadership in the markets in which it competes, reflecting the company’s underlying strengths and the evolving needs of customers. ING will adapt the structure of the Management Board Banking to these changes. The governance structure announced today will help further drive this strategy.

In addition to his role as CEO of Commercial Banking, Eric Boyer de la Giroday will become vice-chairman of the Management Board Banking with day-to-day responsibility for managing all aspects of the banking business. The Management Board Banking will include the newly created positions of CEO Retail Banking Benelux and CEO Retail Banking Direct and International. Hans van der Noordaa, currently responsible for Insurance Europe and Asia/Pacific will take up the position of CEO Retail Banking Benelux. Eli Leenaars, currently responsible for Retail Banking, will take up the position of CEO Retail Banking Direct and International. These changes recognise both the importance and size of our home markets and the strategic direction to bring ING Direct and the retail bank closer to each other.

In light of these changes Dick Harryvan has decided to take early retirement as CEO of ING Direct and member of the Management Board Banking as of 1 January 2010, after a career of more than 30 years with ING. Dick Harryvan started his career with ING in 1979. In April 2006 he was appointed to the Executive Board of ING and CEO of ING Direct. Since 1 June 2009 he has served as a member of the Management Board Banking.

Jan Hommen, CEO of ING commented: "I want to acknowledge the significant role that Dick has played in building ING Direct into the world's leading direct bank and thereby making personal finance easier for our customers. I respect Dick's decision to take early retirement and want to thank him for three decades of very dedicated service to ING."

The insurance business will focus on its long-term structural leadership positions in life and retirement services. Key building blocks will include the insurance operations in the Benelux, US, Central Europe, Latin America and Asia/Pacific as well as the global Investment Management operations.

Since announcing the Back to Basics strategy, ING has made significant progress on bringing greater discipline and focus to its regional insurance business by lowering costs, reducing risk and divesting non-core businesses. ING will continue to strive to unlock additional value by leveraging its global distribution skills, streamlining core processes and systems, pursuing customer-needs based product development and increasing effectiveness and efficiency of IT. The customer value proposition will focus on financial education, simpler products, easier service and lower costs, all with a view to helping our customers plan for a lifetime of financial security. ING Investment Management will continue to be part of Insurance, consisting of three regional organisations and Real Estate Investment Management.

Jacques de Vaucleroy has decided to leave ING to pursue other interests. He will step down from the Management Board Insurance with immediate effect but will remain an advisor to the Management Board until 1 January 2010 to ensure a smooth transition. Jacques de Vaucleroy started his career with ING in 1986. In April 2006 he was appointed to the Executive Board of ING Group. Since 1 June 2009 he has served as a member of the Management Board Insurance and CEO of ING Investment Management.

Jan Hommen, CEO of ING said: “I would like to thank Jacques for his important contribution to ING over the past 23 years. I have admired his energy and leadership. I regret but respect Jacques’ decision to leave ING and realise that we will miss his experience and broad knowledge of the industry.”

In light of the strategic decisions regarding the insurance operations as well as the departure from the Management Board Insurance of Jacques de Vaucleroy and Hans van der Noordaa, the governance structure will be adapted.

Tom McInerney, currently responsible for Insurance Americas, will take up the role of Chief Operating Officer Insurance on the Management Board Insurance, having responsibility for all day-to-day insurance and investment management activities. Matt Rider, currently CFO for ING’s global insurance operations, will join the Management Board Insurance and become Chief Administrative Officer with a broad finance responsibility.

The appointments announced today are subject to approval by the Dutch Central Bank. Following the appointments, the composition of the ING Executive Management Boards will be as follows as of 1 January 2010: