v3.25.4
Derivatives and hedge accounting
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Disclosure of risk management strategy related to hedge accounting [abstract]  
Derivatives and hedge accounting 36  Derivatives and hedge accounting
Use of derivatives
ING uses derivatives for economic hedging purposes to manage its asset and liability portfolios and structural risk
positions. The primary objective of ING’s hedging activities is to manage the risks which arise from structural
imbalances in the duration and other profiles of its assets and liabilities. The objective of economic hedging is to
enter into positions with an opposite risk profile to an identified risk exposure to reduce that exposure. The main
risks which are being hedged are interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk. These risks are
primarily hedged with interest rate swaps, cross currency swaps and foreign exchange forwards/swaps.
ING uses credit derivatives to manage its economic exposure to credit risk, including total return swaps and credit
default swaps, to sell or buy protection for credit risk exposures in the loan, investment, and trading portfolios.
Hedge accounting is not applied in relation to these credit derivatives.
Hedge accounting
Derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting under IFRS are classified and accounted for in accordance with the
nature of the instrument hedged and the type of IFRS hedge accounting model that is applicable. The three
models applicable under IFRS are: fair value hedge accounting, cash flow hedge accounting, and hedge accounting
of a net investment in a foreign operation. How and to what extent these models are applied are described under
the relevant headings below. The company’s detailed accounting policies for these three hedge models are set out
in paragraph 1.5 ‘Financial instruments’ of Note 1 ‘Basis of preparation and material accounting policy
information’.
The benchmark rate reform
Reference is made to note 'Risk management / The impact of the benchmark rate reform' for information on how
ING is managing the transition to alternative benchmark rates and ING’s progress in completing the transition with
respect to derivatives in hedge accounting relationships.
Fair value hedge accounting
ING’s fair value hedges principally consist of interest rate swaps that are used to protect against changes in the fair
value of fixed-rate instruments due to movements in market interest rates. ING’s approach to managing market
risk, including interest rate risk, is discussed in ‘Risk management –Market risk’. ING’s exposure to interest rate risk
is disclosed in paragraph ‘Interest rate risk in banking book’.
ING Group designates specific non-contractual risk components of hedged items. This is usually determined by
designating benchmark interest rates such as EURIBOR, SOFR, SONIA or TONAR, among others, because the fair
value of a fixed-rate instrument varies directly in response to changes in its benchmark interest rate.
By using derivative financial instruments to hedge exposures to changes in interest rates, ING also exposes itself to
credit risk of the derivative counterparty, which is not offset by the hedged item. ING minimises counterparty
credit risk in derivative instruments by clearing most of the derivatives through Central Clearing Counterparties. In
addition, ING only enters into transactions with high-quality counterparties and requires posting collateral.
ING Group applies fair value hedge accounting on micro level in which one hedged item is hedged with one or
multiple hedging instruments. Micro fair value hedge accounting is mainly applied on issued debt securities and
purchased debt instruments for hedging interest rate risk.
Before fair value hedge accounting is applied, ING determines whether an economic relationship between the
hedged item and the hedging instrument exists based on an evaluation of the quantitative characteristics of these
items and the hedged risk that is supported by quantitative analysis. ING considers whether the critical terms of
the hedged item and hedging instrument closely align when assessing the presence of an economic relationship.
ING evaluates whether the fair value of the hedged item and the hedging instrument respond similarly to similar
risks. In addition, ING is mainly using regression analysis to assess whether the hedging instrument is expected to
be and has been highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value of the hedged item.
ING uses the following derivative financial instruments in a fair value hedge accounting relationship:
Gross carrying value of derivatives designated under fair value hedge accounting
Assets
Liabilities
Assets
Liabilities
in EUR million
2025
2025
2024
2024
As at 31 December
Hedging instrument on interest rate risk
– Interest rate swaps
2,831
4,294
3,080
5,673
– Other interest derivatives
213
13
207
23
Hedging instrument on FX rate risk
– Cross currency swaps
12
3
The derivatives used for fair value hedge accounting are included in the statement of financial position line-item
‘Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss – Non-trading derivatives’ for EUR 578 million (2024: EUR 617
million) respectively ‘Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss – Non-trading derivatives’ EUR 54 million
(2024: EUR 79 million). The difference between the gross carrying value as presented in the table and the net
carrying value as presented in the statement of financial position is due to offsetting with other derivatives and
collaterals paid or received.
For our main currencies the average fixed rate for interest rate swaps used in fair value hedge accounting are
2.16% (2024: 2.08%) for EUR and 4.43% (2024: 4.22%) for USD.
The following table shows the net notional amount of derivatives designated in fair value hedging, split into the
maturity of the instruments. The net notional amounts presented in the table are a combination of payer (-) and
receiver (+) swaps.
Maturity derivatives designated in fair value hedging
in EUR million
Less
than 1
month
1 to 3
months
3 to 12
months
1 to 2
years
2 to 3
years
3 to 4
years
4 to 5
years
>5 years
Total
As at 31 December 2025
Hedging instrument on
interest rate risk
– Interest rate swaps
1,994
4,453
7,778
6,726
12,149
8,484
4,694
-6,999
39,279
– Other interest derivatives
-3
-31
-211
-348
-457
-297
-274
-1,157
-2,780
As at 31 December 2024
Hedging instrument on
interest rate risk
- Interest rate swaps
43
1,224
7,341
14,134
6,313
12,050
7,688
1,564
50,358
– Other interest derivatives
-4
-47
-218
-317
-389
-347
-287
-932
-2,540
Hedging instrument on FX
rate risk
– Cross currency swaps
-142
-60
-98
-299
Gains and losses on derivatives designated under fair value hedge accounting are recognised in the statement of
profit or loss. The effective portion of the fair value change on the hedged item is also recognised in the statement
of profit or loss in 'Valuation results and net trading income'. As a result, only the net accounting ineffectiveness
has an impact on the net result.
Hedged items included in a fair value hedging relationship
Carrying amount of the hedged items
Accumulated amount of fair value hedge
adjustment on the hedged item included in
the carrying amount of the hedged item
Change in fair value
of the hedged item
for measuring
ineffectiveness for
the period
Change in fair value
hedging instruments
for the period
Hedge
ineffectiveness
recognised in the
statement of profit
or loss gain (+) / loss
(-)
in EUR million
Assets
Liabilities
Assets
Liabilities
As at 31 December 2025
Interest rate risk and FX rate risk
– Debt securities at fair value through other comprehensive income
44,165
n/a
-480
– Loans at FVOCI
n/a
– Loans and advances to customers
830
-2
19
– Debt instruments at amortised cost
20,695
-438
-284
– Debt securities in issue
85,843
-2,127
-45
– Subordinated loans
16,794
-327
-287
– Customer deposits and other funds on deposit
26
-1
– Discontinued hedges
33
-1
Total
65,690
102,663
-407
-2,456
-1,078
1,111
34
As at 31 December 2024
Interest rate risk and FX rate risk
– Debt securities at fair value through other comprehensive income
35,119
n/a
269
– Loans at FVOCI
n/a
– Loans and advances to customers
1,149
-6
-35
– Debt instruments at amortised cost
13,802
-179
49
– Debt securities in issue
83,669
-2,234
-1,139
– Subordinated loans
17,131
-665
-188
– Customer deposits and other funds on deposit
28
-1
1
– Discontinued hedges
58
-5
Total
50,070
100,827
-126
-2,906
-1,043
1,016
-27
During 2025, the interest rate movements significantly affected the fair value changes of both the derivatives and
the hedged items designated in fair value hedges. However, no material hedging relationship was discontinued as
a result of the interest rate movements in 2025. Refer to Note 22 ‘Valuation results and net trading income'. In
addition, the net increase in hedged items is due to higher volumes in debt securities designated in hedge
accounting.
The main sources of ineffectiveness are:
§differences in maturities of the hedged item(s) and hedging instrument(s);
§different interest rate curves applied to discount the hedged item(s) and hedging instrument(s);
§differences in timing of cash flows of the hedged item(s) and hedging instrument(s).
There were no other sources of significant ineffectiveness in these hedging relationships.
Cash flow hedge accounting
ING applies cash flow hedge accounting on a micro and macro level. ING’s cash flow hedges mainly consist of
interest rate swaps and cross-currency swaps that are used to protect against the exposure to variability in future
cash flows on non-trading assets and liabilities that bear interest at variable rates or are expected to be refunded
or reinvested in the future. The amounts and timing of future cash flows, representing both principal and interest
flows, are projected for each portfolio of financial assets and liabilities, based on contractual terms and other
variables including estimates of prepayments. These projected cash flows form the basis for identifying the
notional amount subject to interest rate risk or foreign currency exchange rate risk that is designated under cash
flow hedge accounting.
ING’s approach to manage market risk, including interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk, is
discussed in ‘Risk management – Market risk’. ING determines the amount of the exposures to which it applies
hedge accounting by assessing the potential impact of changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange
rates on the future cash flows from its floating-rate assets and liabilities. This assessment is performed using
analytical techniques.
As noted above for fair value hedges, by using derivative financial instruments to hedge exposures to changes in
interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, ING exposes itself to credit risk of the derivative counterparty,
which is not offset by the hedged items. This exposure is managed similarly to that for fair value hedges.
Gains and losses on the effective portions of derivatives designated under cash flow hedge accounting are
recognised in Other Comprehensive Income. Interest cash flows on these derivatives are recognised in the
statement of profit or loss in ‘Net interest income’ consistent with the manner in which the forecasted cash flows
affect the net result. The gains and losses on ineffective portions of such derivatives are recognised immediately in
the statement of profit or loss in ‘Valuation results and net trading income’.
ING determines an economic relationship between the cash flows of the hedged item and the hedging instrument
based on an evaluation of the quantitative characteristics of these items and the hedged risk that is supported by
quantitative analysis. ING considers whether the critical terms of the hedged item and hedging instrument closely
align when assessing the presence of an economic relationship. ING evaluates whether the cash flows of the
hedged item and the hedging instrument respond similarly to the hedged risk, such as the benchmark interest
rate of foreign currency. In addition, a regression analysis is performed to assess whether the hedging instrument
is expected to be and has been highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value of the hedged item.
ING uses the following derivative financial instruments in a cash flow hedge accounting relationship:
Gross carrying value of derivatives used for cash flow hedge accounting
Assets
Liabilities
Assets
Liabilities
in EUR million
2025
2025
2024
2024
As at 31 December
Hedging instrument on interest rate risk
– Interest rate swaps
9,414
10,066
10,635
12,814
Hedging instrument on FX rate risk
– Cross currency swaps
1,042
139
472
339
Hedging instrument on combined interest and FX rate risk
– Cross currency interest rate swaps
63
10
The derivatives used for cash flow hedge accounting are included in the statement of financial position line-item
‘Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss – Non-trading derivatives’ EUR 459 million (2024: EUR 158
million) respectively ‘Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss – Non-trading derivatives’ EUR 254
million (2024: EUR 573 million). The difference between the gross carrying value as presented in the table and the
net carrying value as presented in the statement of financial position is due to offsetting with other derivatives and
collaterals paid or received.
For the main currencies the average fixed rate for interest rate swaps used in cash flow hedge accounting are
1.81% (2024: 1.79%) for EUR, 4.27% (2024: 4.37%) for PLN, 3.85% (2024: 3.99%) for USD and 3.38% (2024: 3.29%)
for AUD. The average currency exchange rates for cross currency interest rate swaps used in cash flow hedge
accounting is for EUR/USD 0.97 (2024: 1.03) and for EUR/AUD 1.56 (2024: 1.52).
The following table shows the net notional amount of derivatives designated in cash flow hedging split into the
maturity of the instruments. The net notional amounts presented in the table are a combination of payer (+) and
receiver (-) swaps.
Maturity derivatives designated in cash flow hedging
in EUR million
Less
than 1
month
1 to 3
months
3 to 12
months
1 to 2
years
2 to 3
years
3 to 4
years
4 to 5
years
>5
years
Total
As at 31 December 2025
Hedging instrument on interest
rate risk
– Interest rate swaps
-2,023
-3,542
-6,217
-15,357
-14,152
-4,549
-4,381
-11,676
-61,897
Hedging instrument on FX rate
risk
– Cross currency swaps
456
964
654
-1,271
-446
607
-601
-1,572
-1,210
Hedging instrument on combined
interest and FX rate risk
– Cross currency interest rate
swaps
-1,246
-1,518
-2,765
As at 31 December 2024
Hedging instrument on interest
rate risk
– Interest rate swaps
-1,805
-768
-10,590
-13,389
-10,551
-6,040
-4,522
-3,222
-50,886
Hedging instrument on FX rate
risk
– Cross currency swaps
-241
-972
122
-1,029
-262
-238
-999
-3,619
Hedging instrument on combined
interest and FX rate risk
– Cross currency interest rate
swaps
-25
-1,283
-1,578
-2,887
The following table shows the cash flow hedge accounting impact on profit or loss and comprehensive income:
Cash flow hedging – impact of hedging instruments on the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive
income
in EUR million
Change in
value of
hedged item
used for
calculating
hedge
ineffectiveness
for the period
Carrying
amount cash
flow hedge
reserve at the
end of the
reporting
period1
Amount
reclassified
from CFH
reserve to
profit or loss2
Change in
value of
hedging
instrument
recognised in
OCI for the
period
Hedge
ineffectiveness
recognised in
the statement
of profit or
loss, gain (+) /
loss (-)
As at 31 December 2025
Interest rate risk on:
– Floating rate lending
-1,265
-1,157
536
– Floating rate borrowing
289
-141
-146
– Other
– Discontinued hedges
-323
7
Total interest rate risk
-977
-1,619
397
602
7
FX rate risk on:
– Floating rate lending
-15
-58
-171
– Floating rate borrowing
34
-4
-38
– Other
– Discontinued hedges
-1
Total FX risk
20
-62
-209
195
3
Combined interest and FX rate risk on:
– Floating rate lending
37
47
-39
– Floating rate borrowing
– Other
– Discontinued hedges
Total combined interest and FX risk
37
47
-39
2
1
Total cash flow hedge
-920
-1,635
149
799
10
Cash flow hedging – impact of hedging instruments on the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive
income
in EUR million
Change in
value of
hedged item
used for
calculating
hedge
ineffectiveness
for the period
Carrying
amount cash
flow hedge
reserve at the
end of the
reporting
period1
Amount
reclassified
from CFH
reserve to
profit or loss2
Change in
value of
hedging
instrument
recognised in
OCI for the
period
Hedge
ineffectiveness
recognised in
the statement
of profit or
loss, gain (+) /
loss (-)
As at 31 December 2024
Interest rate risk on:
– Floating rate lending
-668
-2,850
496
– Floating rate borrowing
114
125
-425
– Other
1
1
– Discontinued hedges
89
-51
Total interest rate risk
-553
-2,635
20
526
39
FX rate risk on:
– Floating rate lending
-79
-55
-121
– Floating rate borrowing
12
5
-37
– Other
– Discontinued hedges
-4
Total FX risk
-67
-51
-162
220
-3
Combined interest and FX rate risk on:
– Floating rate lending
70
72
-68
– Floating rate borrowing
– Other
– Discontinued hedges
Total combined interest and FX risk
70
72
-68
-3
-2
Total cash flow hedge
-550
-2,614
-209
743
35
1The carrying amount is the gross amount, excluding tax adjustments.
2The amounts are reclassified to Net interest income - interest income and/or expense on non-trading derivatives (hedge accounting).
In 2025, EUR -1 million was reclassified from CFH reserve to profit or loss for cash flows that are no longer expected
to occur (2024: nil).
The increase in the carrying amount of the cash flow hedge reserve is driven by the interest rate movements. No
material hedging relationship was discontinued as a result of the interest rate movements in 2025.
The main sources of ineffectiveness for cash flow hedges are:
§differences in timing of cash flows of the hedged item(s) and hedging instrument(s);
§mismatches in reset frequency between hedged item and hedging instrument.
The following table shows the movement of the cash flow hedge reserve:
Movement cash flow hedge reserve
in EUR million
2025
2024
Opening balance
-1,693
-2,058
Value changes recognised in OCI
799
743
Amounts recycled to profit or loss
149
-209
Income tax
-175
-140
Exchange rate and other changes
-12
-14
Adjustment for non controlling interest
-163
-14
Movement for the year
597
365
Ending balance
-1,096
-1,693
Hedges of net investments in foreign operations
A foreign currency exposure arises from a net investment in subsidiaries that have a different functional currency
from the presentation currency of ING. The risk arises from the fluctuation in spot exchange rates between the
functional currency of the subsidiaries and ING’s presentation currency, which causes the amount of the net
investment to vary in the consolidated financial statements of ING. This risk may have a significant impact on ING’s
financial statements. ING’s policy is to hedge these exposures only when these are expected to have a significant
impact on the regulatory capital ratios of ING and its subsidiaries.
ING’s net investment hedges principally consist of derivatives (including currency forwards and swaps) and non-
derivative financial instruments such as foreign currency denominated funding. When the hedging instrument is
foreign currency-denominated debt, ING assesses effectiveness by comparing past changes in the carrying
amount of the debt that are attributable to a change in the spot rate with past changes in the investment in the
foreign operation due to movement in the spot rate (the offset method).
Gains and losses on the effective portions of derivatives designated under net investment hedge accounting are
recognised in Other Comprehensive Income. The balance in equity is recognised in the statement of profit or loss
when the related foreign subsidiary is disposed of. The gains and losses on ineffective portions are recognised
immediately in the statement of profit or loss in 'Valuation results and net trading income'.
ING has the following derivative financial instruments used for net investment hedging:
Gross carrying value of derivatives used for net investment hedging
Assets
Liabilities
Assets
Liabilities
in EUR million
2025
2025
2024
2024
As at 31 December
– FX forwards and Cross currency swaps
68
74
82
117
The derivatives used for net investment hedge accounting are included in the statement of financial position line-
item ‘Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss – Non-trading derivatives’ EUR 68 million (2024: EUR 82
million) respectively ‘Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss – Non trading derivatives’ EUR 74 million
(2024: EUR 117 million).
For ING’s main currencies the average exchange rates used in net investment hedge accounting for 2025 are EUR/USD
1.12 (2024: 1.08), EUR/PLN  4.24 (2024: 4.31), EUR/AUD  1.75 (2024: 1.64) and EUR/THB  36.98 (2024: 38.00).
The following table shows the notional amount of derivatives designated in net investment hedging split into the
maturity of the instruments:
Maturity derivatives designated in net investment hedging
in EUR million
Less
than 1
month
1 to 3
months
3 to 12
months
1 to 2
years
2 to 3
years
3 to 4
years
4 to 5
years
>5 years
Total
As at 31 December 2025
– FX forwards and cross
currency swaps
-6,683
-4,298
-86
-11,066
As at 31 December 2024
– FX forwards and Cross
currency swaps
-8,681
-4,158
-76
-12,916
The effect of the net investment hedge accounting in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive
income is as follows:
Net investment hedge accounting – Impact on statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income
in EUR million
Change in value
of hedged item 
used for
calculating
hedge
ineffectiveness
for the period
Carrying amount
net investment
hedge reserve at
the end of the
reporting period1
Hedged item
affected
statement of
profit or loss
Change in value
of hedging
instrument
recognised in OCI
Hedge
ineffectiveness
recognised in the
statement of
profit or loss,
gain(+) / Loss(-)
As at 31 December 2025
Investment in foreign
operations
-816
488
816
Discontinued hedges
535
As at 31 December 2024
Investment in foreign
operations
295
-95
-295
Discontinued hedges
302
1The carrying amount is the gross amount, excluding tax adjustments.