ING Wholesale Bank chief on tariffs impact on dealmaking

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Andrew Bester, ING’s head of Wholesale Banking, appeared on Bloomberg’s Insights with Haslinda Amin to share his perspectives on market sentiment, macroeconomic trends and ING’s strategic priorities. In a wide-ranging discussion, Andrew positioned ING as a trusted adviser amid today’s uncertain landscape, emphasising how the bank is helping clients proactively manage risks across interest rates, foreign exchange, and commodities.  

“What we see with our clients is a strong focus on actively covering the risks they face,” Andrew said, noting ING’s support for companies in securing key inputs to navigate volatility with greater confidence. 

Andrew echoed broader market caution, acknowledging sentiment-driven volatility and postponed investment decisions, yet struck a tone of cautious optimism. ING anticipates subdued US growth of around 1% in 2026, with the possibility of a technical recession, but sees more promising prospects in Europe—particularly Germany—fuelled by infrastructure and defence spending. 

He also reaffirmed ING’s leadership in sustainable finance, citing a 25% year-on-year increase in sustainability-linked loan volumes.  

With energy security and decarbonisation high on the agenda for clients, Andrew underscored strong levels of engagement across Europe and Asia: “We continue to see the need for alternative sources of energy,” he said. ING’s extensive track record in infrastructure financing places it in a strong position to support the evolving needs of corporates and governments alike. 

Looking ahead, Andrew added that ING is well placed to take part in future consolidation within the European banking sector, stating, “ING has the breadth and scale to participate in future consolidation and cross-border growth.” 

Originally published in Bloomberg: Opens in a new tabhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-05-16/ing-wholesale-bank-chief-on-tariffs-impact-on-dealmaking-video