ING Germany's AI mortgages promise 30-minute approvals by 2026

Faster loans, no job cuts: ING's bold AI move reshapes mortgages. Can tech and human judgment coexist as profits slip?

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2026 January 29 . 7:24 PM

1 min read

The image shows a row of ATM machines sitting on top of a tiled floor, with a wall in the... — The image shows a row of ATM machines sitting on top of a tiled floor, with a wall in the background featuring a board with text on it. The text on the board reads "7-Eleven" and the machines are likely used to withdraw money.

ING will check construction loans with AI in 30 minutes - ING Germany's AI mortgages promise 30-minute approvals by 2026

ING Germany is expanding its mortgage services with a new AI-powered system set to launch in mid-2026. The bank aims to cut approval times to just 30 minutes while keeping lending decisions in human hands. This move comes as the company reports mixed financial results for 2025, with growth in customer numbers but a drop in profits.

The new 'Instant Mortgage' service will first roll out through ING's subsidiary, Interhyp. Using AI, the system will automatically gather property details and assess creditworthiness—provided customers give consent. Despite the tech upgrade, ING has stressed that final lending choices will remain with human staff.

The bank's private customer base reached 10.1 million by the end of 2025, up from previous years. New mortgage commitments also climbed by 30%, hitting €14.4 billion. However, pre-tax profit and net income both fell compared to 2024.

ING expects the AI tools to speed up processing without reducing its workforce. The service is scheduled to go live in the second quarter of 2026.

The AI-driven mortgage system will launch in early 2026, promising faster approvals while keeping human oversight. ING's customer growth and higher mortgage volumes contrast with its lower profits for the year. The bank has confirmed no job cuts are planned as part of the AI integration.