Dutch financial services giant ING is continuing to advance its €1.1 billion share buyback program while at the same time deepening its commercial engagement in the Philippines, reflecting a balance between returning capital to shareholders and pursuing growth opportunities in key Asian markets.
Between 5 and 9 January 2026, the bank repurchased 1.46 million shares for about €35.6 million at an average price of €24.30 per share. Since the program was launched in October 2025, ING has bought back 19.18 million shares worth €436.6 million, bringing the program close to 40 percent completion. These shares will be cancelled, reducing the number of shares outstanding and supporting earnings per share, while signalling management’s confidence in the bank’s capital strength.
At the same time, ING’s capital actions sit alongside its expanding role in the Philippines, where the bank is actively involved in the fast-growing sustainable finance market. The Philippine has recently reached an important milestone, with rising demand for green and social bonds, and ING has been regularly cited in market discussions in Manila as one of the international banks supporting this trend. This reflects ING’s commercial strategy of aligning its balance sheet strength with opportunities in markets where sustainable finance is gaining momentum.
ING Bank Manila has also played a hands-on role in recent sustainability bond transactions linked to major Philippine banks, including acting as joint lead arranger and bookrunner for Philippine National Bank’s first sustainability bond issuance in late 2025. This participation highlights ING’s ability to structure and underwrite complex sustainable finance products locally.
Taken together, the share buyback and ING’s activity in the Philippines underline a broader strategy: returning excess capital to shareholders while reinforcing the bank’s presence and relevance in growth markets where sustainable finance is becoming a core part of the financial system.
