Traders Union has analyzed financial markets for over 14 years, evaluating brokers based on 250+ transparent criteria, including security, regulation, and trading conditions. Our expert team of over 50 professionals regularly updates a Watch List of 500+ brokers to provide users with data-driven insights. While our research is based on objective data, we recommend that users perform independent due diligence and consult official regulatory sources before making any financial decisions.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial policies.
ING Direct Pros & Cons
- High reputation and reliability of a large international bank.
- Availability of full-fledged training.
- No commission for storage, withdrawal of funds, replenishment.
- Lack of opportunity to work in the Forex market.
- Limited range of trading instruments.
- Complies with the legal framework of the Eurozone.
- Platform is in the French language only.
TU Expert Verdict
ING Direct demonstrates moderate stability and can suit certain traders. Its conditions are acceptable, and feedback is mixed but reasonable. In my own tests, it performed adequately, though it lacks the consistency of higher-rated companies.
Top-5 Brokers Traders Prefer
ING Direct User Reviews
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5-star
13%
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4-star
17%
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3-star
48%
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2-star
17%
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1-star
4%
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Commissions and Fees
Score:We evaluate brokers' fees and spreads by assessing the costs associated with Standard and ECN/Raw spread accounts, including commissions and spreads. Additionally, our evaluation considers extra fees such as deposit/withdrawal charges and inactivity fees. Learn the assessment criteria8 /10The trading and non-trading commissions of ING Direct have been analyzed and rated as having Low fees, with a fees score of 8/10. Additionally, these commissions were compared with those of the top two competitors, ZForex and OANDA, to provide the most comprehensive information.
- Low Forex trading fees
- Tight EUR/USD market spread
- No inactivity fee
- No deposit fee
- No withdrawal fee
- Complex fee structure
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Is ING Direct Safe?
Score:We evaluate brokers' safety based on several key criteria. The highest value is placed on regulation, especially Tier 1 regulation, which ensures adherence to stringent standards set by top financial authorities like the FCA in the UK, CFTC in the US, CySEc and BaFin (EU) or ASIC (Australia). High scores are also given for participation in investor protection funds, which safeguard clients' funds in case of broker insolvency. Learn the assessment criteria9 /10ING Direct has a safety score of 9/10, which corresponds to a High security level. The safest brokers are those with Tier-1 regulation, a long history (over 10 years in the market), and participation in investor compensation schemes.
- Tier-1 regulated
- Track record over 29 years
- No negative balance protection
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Account Types
Score:We evaluate a broker’s account offering by analyzing the range and suitability of available account types and how effectively they cater to different trader profiles and strategies. Our assessment covers the diversity of account options — including Standard, ECN/Raw, Cent, Swap-Free (Islamic), and VIP accounts — as well as the flexibility of trading conditions provided. Learn the assessment criteria.5.6 /10ING Direct offers the following account options: Standard, ECN/Raw spread.
However, it does not provide a Cent account, which can be a disadvantage for beginners looking to practice with minimal risk.
- Low minimum deposit
- Standard account with balanced trading conditions
- Tight spread ECN account
- No VIP account option
- No Cent account
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Deposit and Withdrawal
Score:This section assesses the efficiency, speed, and affordability of brokers’ transaction processes, focusing on available methods, currencies, and fees. For further details, please refer to our data-focused methodology4.5 /10ING Direct received a Low score for the efficiency and convenience of its deposit and withdrawal processes.
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Markets and Tradable Assets
Score:The evaluation in this section is based on the TU methodology and reflects the total number and variety of tradable assets offered by the broker, including Forex currency pairs. It also considers the availability of passive income tools such as PAMM accounts, copy trading, and similar services. All information is obtained from publicly available sources and may change. Learn the assessment criteria5.8 /10ING Direct offers a limited selection of trading assets compared to the market average. The platform supports 0 assets in total, including 36 Forex pairs.
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Trading Account Opening
We successfully registered an account with ING Direct in 25 minutes. The KYC verification was completed within 3 business days. The minimum deposit amount at ING Direct is $2000.Score:We evaluated Trading Account Opening at ING Direct by testing the registration process under real conditions, including opening an account and funding it with the minimum required deposit (but no less than $100). Our assessment considered whether onboarding was fully online, the average registration time, the speed of KYC verification, and how quickly traders could activate their accounts. Learn the assessment criteria.5 /10The onboarding procedure works as expected, although there is room for improvement in speed and simplicity.
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Customer Support
Score:We evaluated Customer Support at ING Direct by opening a real account funded with the minimum required deposit (no less than $100) and contacting support to measure response time under real conditions. Our assessment considered contact channels, response speed, multilingual support, and availability hours. Learn the assessment criteria6.8 /10
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ING Direct Video Guides
FAQs
How do reviews assess ING Direct’s regulation and overall safety level?
ING Direct has a safety score of 9/10, which corresponds to a high security level in this review. It is Tier-1 regulated by the European Central Bank (ECB), has been operating since 1997, and uses KYC verification, but it does not provide negative balance protection and there is no direct investor protection fund mentioned.
What fee structure and spreads does ING Direct apply to forex trading accounts?
According to this review, ING Direct is rated 8/10 for fees, with low forex trading costs, tight EUR/USD spreads, and no deposit, withdrawal, or inactivity fees. For Standard accounts, EUR/USD spreads typically range from 0.2 to 0.5 pips and GBP/USD from 0 to 0.7 pips, while ECN/RAW accounts have average spreads of 0.1 pips on EUR/USD and 0.15 pips on GBP/USD plus a $3 commission per lot.
What feedback is available on ING Direct account types and their main features?
The review states that ING Direct offers Standard and ECN/Raw spread trading accounts, along with securities and investment accounts (REA and REA: PME) that differ by risk and return levels. It notes advantages such as a low minimum deposit and tight ECN spreads, but also highlights the absence of Cent, Micro, Swap Free, Demo, VIP, and managed accounts, and mentions that opening any account requires a current bank account with ING.
What do reviews say about ING Direct deposit and withdrawal methods and limits?
The section indicates that ING Direct supports bank card and bank wire for deposits and withdrawals, with no deposit or withdrawal fees, but does not accept BTC, Wise, or PayPal, which may limit flexibility. It also notes that the minimum deposit is $2000 and the minimum withdrawal is €10, while emphasizing that specific conditions can vary by account type and payment method and are not fully detailed in the review.
How is ING Direct customer support described in available feedback and comments?
Based on available feedback, ING Direct’s customer support is described as providing basic functionality with moderate response times that can vary depending on request complexity. Support is offered in French via an internet cafe, forum, email, postal mail, and phone during specified weekday and Saturday hours, but there is no 24/7 chat mentioned.
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