ING, strategic banking partner for international business

ING plays a quietly influential role in financing, structuring, and supporting companies whose operations extend far beyond Ireland

Maurice Kenny, head of sectors at ING Bank N.V, Dublin.

ING’s presence in Ireland is best understood through the prism of multinational activity — particularly that of American corporations, but also of Irish-headquartered companies with global reach. 

As Ireland has evolved into a strategic base for international business, ING has played a quietly influential role in financing, structuring, and supporting companies whose operations extend far beyond Ireland. 

What sets us apart and offers our clients superior value is the ING Difference: our global reach with local experts, our sector expertise and being sustainability pioneers. This is the foundation on which we build sustainable, long-term relationships with our clients.

Ireland has become a key European gateway for U.S. multinationals in sectors such as technology, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, aviation, and global services. This concentration of American corporate activity has reshaped the Irish financial services landscape, creating demand for sophisticated finance services that can operate seamlessly across jurisdictions. ING’s institutional banking model has aligned closely with that need. 

ING has positioned itself as a European partner to multinationals with complex funding, treasury, and capital markets requirements. Many U.S. corporates operating from Ireland manage pan-European or global activities through Irish entities, using the country as a coordination hub for finance, tax, and supply chains. Supporting these structures requires balance sheet strength, regulatory fluency, and cross-border execution — areas where ING has consistently focused its expertise.

One of the defining features of multinational activity in Ireland is its sectoral concentration, and ING’s wholesale banking footprint reflects this reality. Technology and pharmaceutical firms, in particular, rely on structured financing, liquidity management, and risk mitigation solutions that extend beyond one market. ING’s ability to support these needs across multiple European markets has made it a partner of choice for global institutions. 

Crucially, this model has not been limited to foreign-owned companies. As Irish multinationals have expanded internationally — particularly in construction materials, food and agribusiness, aviation, professional services, and industrial manufacturing — their financing needs resemble those of their American peers. 

Global acquisitions, foreign currency exposure, and international supply chains require banking partners capable of operating across borders. ING’s wholesale banking platform has supported Irish-headquartered companies as they scale internationally, reinforcing Ireland’s role not just as a host to multinationals, but as a source of them. Aviation finance further underscores this dual dynamic. 

While Ireland is the world’s leading aircraft leasing hub, many of the underlying relationships involve both international counterparties and Irish-based global lessors. ING’s role in financing aircraft portfolios and aviation assets has supported an ecosystem that links Irish expertise with U.S. capital and global airline demand. In this sense, the bank’s wholesale activity strengthens Ireland’s position as a bridge between domestic capability and international markets.

ING’s emphasis on sustainability-linked financing and sector specialisation has also resonated with multinationals facing heightened regulatory and investor scrutiny. Environmental, social, and governance considerations increasingly influence funding decisions, particularly for publicly listed companies with global footprints. ING’s disciplined approach to risk and sustainable finance has aligned with these evolving priorities.

Ultimately, ING’s wholesale banking presence in Ireland reflects the logic of modern multinational finance. It is shaped less by borders than by networks, and less by visibility than by connectivity. In supporting corporations operating globally, ING is part of the financial infrastructure underpinning one of Ireland’s most important economic strengths — outward-looking, internationally integrated, and strategically significant. To learn more about ING Wholesale Banking & our presence in Ireland, visit www.ingwb.comtarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">  and    www.ingwb.com/en/network/emea/ireland