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Dutch Banking Code

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In September 2009, the Dutch Banking Association (Nederlandse Vereniging van Banken, NVB) published the Banking Code (Code Banken). The Banking Code sets out the principles of conduct for Dutch banks in terms of corporate governance, risk management, audit and remuneration. The Banking Code is a form of self-regulation that took effect on 1 January 2010 on a ‘comply or explain’ basis.

Following this first Banking Code, the Wijffels Committee published a report on the structure of Dutch banks (‘Naar een dienstbaar en stabiel bankwezen’) in 2013. This report paid great attention to the stability of the industry and the importance of competition and diversity in Dutch banking. In its report, the Committee called on the banks to take additional steps towards regaining trust from customers and society as a whole by setting out the role they want to play in society in a social charter.

In response to this request, the NVB introduced a document called ‘Future-oriented Banking (PDF 0,1 MB)', which included an update of the Banking Code. The new Banking Code came into effect on 1 January 2015. In 2021, the Banking Code has been supplemented with two clarifying paragraphs elaborating on the further embedding of the public and social interest and on remuneration policy.

ING Bank strongly supports the principles of the Banking Code to regain trust, ensure stability and protect the interests of our stakeholders. All managers and employees working for ING in the Netherlands take the Banker’s Oath. The oath contains a set of principles affirming the banking industry’s commitment to maintain high standards of ethical behaviour. ING Bank recognises that complying with these principles will be an on-going process.

On 9 March 2023, ING published its report ‘Application of the Dutch Banking Code by ING Bank N.V. (PDF 2,26 MB)’

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