ING Home Loan Review 2026: The Good, Bad & Pocket Perks

ING (formerly ING Direct) is Australia’s most popular online bank, famous for high-interest savings and the Barefoot Investor stamp of approval. But does a great savings account translate to a great mortgage? In this review, we use our insights as a mortgage broker in Brisbane to go beyond the advertised rates and reveal the hidden policies—like their unique LVR tiers and generous parental leave rules—that determine if ING is actually the right fit for your home buying journey.

Note that this review, interest rates, and product information are correct as of February 2026, and all of this information is subject to change without further notification. Any credit applications are subject to meeting the specific bank’s criteria, and the decision is at their final discretion.

What Are ING Home Loans Like?

The top 5 things ING is good at are:

Excellent Interest Rate Discounts… if you are a new customer. ING offers some very sharp rates for new customers, but sometimes it forgets about its existing ones. But, to be fair, it does have a much more relaxed approach to what documents you need to provide compared to the big banks. So, ING could be a good option if you aren’t great with paperwork.
Fairly strong apartment policy. While some other banks have postcode restrictions and will only lend on larger apartments, ING has a minimum apartment size of 40 square metres, with no postcode restrictions.
Market-leading cash-out policy (if you already own a place). If you have an existing property with lots of equity, you can get cash out up to 80% LVR with minimal explanation.
Very good and straightforward suite of commercial property loans. It has cheap and cheerful commercial property loan products with lower fees than most big banks.
Interest only-repayments. ING has a maximum interest-only term of 5 years for owner-occupiers and 10 years for investors.

ing home loans review — We really wanted to add good customer service to the above (ING are apparently one of Australia’s most recommended banks) but as you’ll see in our review this might only apply to new customers…

The top 5 things ING isn’t so good at:

Pre-approval. ING does not fully assess pre-approvals unless you have found a property you will buy—i.e. going to auction. In other cases, it is just doing a credit check and punching out a letter that isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. So be careful of this!
ING cannot do construction loans. If you are thinking about doing a renovation in a few years or an extension on your home, ING will not help. It stopped doing construction loans in 2018, so you will have to look elsewhere if you’re looking to build.
Will not renegotiate for existing customers. In most cases, if you have had a home loan for over 3 years, you can renegotiate your rates without needing to refinance. ING will not offer better interest rates for existing customers who are often on higher rates. We regularly review our customers’ rates and have found that if you have a loan with ING, you may need to refinance to another lender after 3-4 years.
Much slower turnaround time for home loan approvals. Because ING offers special interest rate discounts and deals throughout the years, ING can get inundated with new applications, which can slow down the time it takes to get your loan approved. If you put in your application, the bank can generally get back to you within a couple of business days. In busy times, it might take a week or two. Keep this in mind if you have a finance clause pending. For example, if you have 5 days to get your finance approved, ING might not be a good bank for you. We keep track of the turnaround times of all lenders on our panel, so if you are applying for a home loan with Hunter Galloway, we’ll let you know if ING will be a suitable lender for you.
Stricter credit criteria. ING can be a very conservative bank compared to others. If you have been in your job for under 6 months, ING might not be a fit for you.
Genuine savings. ING will want to see genuine savings if you have less than a 10% deposit. So, it might not be a good option for property investors and homebuyers with smaller deposits.
No branches. These days, with internet banking, this will be less of a concern. However, if you need a bank cheque cut for a new car or want to see someone face-to-face to sort out your banking, ING might not be the best choice. On the flip side, its call centre is Australian-based.

Who Is ING Actually Best For? (Broker Verdict)

As mortgage brokers, we see thousands of applications, and we know that a bank’s “advertised” policy is often very different from reality. In our experience, ING is a “power player” for three specific types of borrowers that other banks often ignore:

1. New Parents & Growing Families

If you are on maternity leave or planning to start a family, ING is arguably one of the best lenders in the market.

Most banks will assess your borrowing capacity based on your current (lower) paid parental leave income. ING is different. They will generally assess your loan based on your return-to-work income, even if you aren’t going back to work for up to 2 years! This policy can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to your borrowing capacity right when you need it most—buying a family home.

2. Couples with Joint Debt (The "Common Debt Reducer")

This is a hidden policy that saves many applications. If you are applying for a home loan but have a personal loan or credit card jointly with a partner, most big banks will hit your application with 100% of that debt repayment—crippling your borrowing power.

ING uses a “Common Debt Reducer” policy. Provided you can show the debt is being serviced jointly, they may only assess 50% of the repayment against your name. This simple calculation change can often unlock tens of thousands in extra borrowing power.

3. The "Set and Forget" Crowd

If you want your home loan to work harder for you without constantly chasing rate discounts, ING is a great fit. Because their Pocket Perks (which we detail below) and Utility Cashbacks are tied to the Orange Everyday account, the entire ecosystem works on autopilot. If you are the type of person who sets up their direct debits and wants to be rewarded for loyalty automatically, this structure is hard to beat.

What Are The Different Home Loan Products ING Offers?

ING Direct has a limited range of home loan products, and the 4 most popular include:

1. Orange Advantage

ING’s Orange Advantage Home Loan product is pretty similar to most other banks’ professional packages. This is where you pay one annual fee and, in return, get additional discounts, offset accounts and special discounts on insurances and related services.

The features include:

100% offset account available with the Orange Everyday bank account
Unlimited additional repayments.
Free ATMs in Australia. ING will give you back the ATM fee at any ATM around the world within five business days (when you open an Orange Everyday).
Redraw facility.
Ability to split your loan as part variable, part fixed rate with an extra 0.10% discount available.
Broker Tip (LVR Rate Tiers): Did you know ING offers significantly lower interest rates if you have a 40% deposit (60% LVR) compared to a 20% deposit? Check the current rate card or ask us about the ‘LVR Tier’ discounts—the savings can be massive.
Fee-saving on all loans under the package; for example, you don’t pay the Fixed Rate Home Loan application fee of $499. (Break costs may apply)
No monthly maintenance fees on the associated Orange Advantage transaction account.
Annual fee is around $100 cheaper than the Big 4 banks and there are no ongoing monthly fees.
Interest-only and investment options are expensive.
No Construction Options are available.

2. Mortgage Simplifier

ING Mortgage Simplifier is the equivalent of a basic home loan. This loan has limited features and no ongoing monthly or annual fees, which means you can save significant amounts of money over the life of the loan.

If you don’t need all the bells and whistles of a Professional Package like the Orange Advantage, the Mortgage Simplifier could be good for you.

The features include:

Free extra repayments
Option to split your home loan
Available on owner-occupied and investment housing.
Redraw is available and unlimited.
No ongoing monthly or annual fees.
Fairly good interest rates for loans over $150,000.
No offset account available.
No Construction Options available.

3. Fixed Rate Loan

ING’s Fixed Rate home loan products can help protect you from any unexpected interest rate rises. With a fixed-rate term of between 1 and 5 years, you can look at having some certainty on your home loan repayments.

The features include:

Maximum loan term of 30 years.
Get an additional 0.10% discount on the Orange Advantage Package.
Principal & Interest home loan repayments can be fortnightly or monthly. Interest-only home loan repayments must be made monthly.
Additional repayments are limited to $10,000 per year, but you can make them anytime.
Fixed-Rate Application fee of $499 if you don’t go on the annual package.

Fixed Break costs could apply if you repay the loan early

4. Green Upgrade Loan

ING’s green upgrade loan offers you the opportunity to make your home more energy efficient by adding solar panels and batteries, induction cooktops, hot water heat pumps and air conditioners.

The loan offers the following features:

Loan size of up to $50,000
No upfront fees
Fixed rate for up to 5 years

5. Commercial Property Loan

Interestingly, ING also has a fairly strong and relatively unknown commercial loan offering available for owner-occupiers or investors.

This product is for secured commercial loans (i.e. if you’re buying a property and not doing a shop fit-out) but has pretty good terms:

ING Commercial Property Loans have variable and fixed-rate options.
There are fixed-rate terms for between 1-5 years.
Total loan term of up to 20 years (some banks only do 5 years).
Loan redraw for fixed rate at the end of the fixed term only. Loan redraw for variable rate—minimum of $10,000 per redraw. Note: there is a redraw fee of $50 for each redraw.
Extra payments are possible for lump sums of up to $20,000 per calendar year for the fixed-rate loan.
The application fee is from 0.20%
No ongoing monthly fees
Maximum loan amount up to $5M. Higher amounts are available by application.
Minimal scope for property development finance

ING Home Loan Fees at a Glance

Fee Type	Cost	Broker Note
Application Fee	$0 – $299	Often waived during promotional periods. Check with us for current waiver codes.
Annual Package Fee	$299	Applies to the Orange Advantage loan. Covers the 100% Offset Account and annual card fees.
Monthly Service Fee	$0	ING charges no monthly account keeping fees on Mortgage Simplifier or Orange Advantage loans.
Settlement Fee	$350	A one-off fee paid at the start of the loan to cover the legal setup of your mortgage.
Valuation Fee	$0	Standard valuations are generally free. ING covers the first valuation cost (up to $225).
Discharge Fee	$250	Payable when you pay off your loan or refinance to another bank (plus government filing fees).

Eligibility Checklist: Can You Actually Apply?

ING is a fantastic bank, but they are also known for being “conservative.” They don’t have the flexibility of some non-bank lenders. Before you start gathering documents, run through this quick checklist to see if you qualify.

✅ Residency

You generally need to be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident living in Australia.

Broker Note: If you are an Expat or on a Temporary Visa (like a 482 visa), ING’s policy is very strict. You are usually better off speaking to us about lenders who specialise in visa-holders.

✅ Employment Stability

ING likes stability. You generally need to meet these minimums:

PAYG (Full Time/Part Time): Minimum 3 to 6 months in your current role. You ideally want to be off probation.
Casual: Minimum 6 months with your current employer (12 months is even safer).
Self-Employed: You need at least 2 years of tax returns. If you only have 1 year of financials, ING is likely a “No.”

✅ Deposit Size

Minimum 5%: You can purchase with as little as a 5% deposit, but you will need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
Genuine Savings: If your deposit is less than 20%, ING requires you to show 5% Genuine Savings. This means you must show that you saved that 5% yourself over a 3-month period (gifts don’t count for this specific 5% portion).
The “Sweet Spot”: A 20% deposit allows you to avoid LMI and often unlocks better interest rate tiers.

✅ Clean Credit History

This is non-negotiable. ING’s automated credit scoring is tough.

No Defaults or Judgments: If you have a default on your credit file (even a small paid one from a phone bill 3 years ago), ING will likely decline your application automatically.
Broker Tip: If you have “bad credit,” don’t apply with ING—it will just add another enquiry to your file. Chat with us about specialist lenders who can help fix your credit first.

What Documents Does ING Direct Need For A Home Loan?

The documents needed for ING are slightly more relaxed than most banks in Australia. Let’s assume you receive a salary and are purchasing your first home. ING would ask for the following:

Signed Application Form, and Privacy Act form completed by all borrowers.
Identification documents: Current Medicare + Drivers license or Australian passport.
2 Most Recent Payslips less than 60 days old.
If you receive overtime/bonus/commission, ING also requires the most recent PAYG summary.
Evidence of your Genuine Savings if you have less than a 10% deposit; otherwise, you just need to show deposit funds.
Signed Contract of Sale.

So the major difference here is that most other lenders like Suncorp, BOQ or ANZ need 3 months of statements showing your salary credits and any existing credit cards or personal loans that might be open. ING does not need this; it just wants to see where your deposit is coming from and confirm your payslips.

ING ideally wants you to have completed probation and needs you to have been in your role for a minimum of 3 months if you have a 20% deposit or 6 months if you have less than a 20% deposit and need lenders mortgage insurance.

There are some exceptions where you have previously been in a similar role or the same industry for up to 2 years. They review this on a case-by-case basis, so there are no guarantees your loan will get approved.

Check to see if you are eligible for a home loan

How Much Can I Borrow From ING?

ING’s credit criteria are subject to change at any time, and all lending is up to credit verification and satisfactory approval. To indicate how much you can borrow from ING Direct, we have run the following scenario through ING’s borrowing calculator.

A single person living in Brisbane (In the 4000 postcodes)
Earning $100,000 PAYG salary income
Average monthly expenses of $2,000
Has a credit card of $5,000 and no other debts
Assuming this person has a 20% deposit as genuine savings
Figures as of 9 February 2026, are subject to credit criteria and will change without notification.

In this scenario, the person can borrow $551,600

These figures are indicative and would be subject to meeting credit criteria, valuation and satisfactory verification of all supporting documentation. They are accurate as of 9 February 2026 and subject to change without further notification.

Would you like to know your borrowing capacity? Please chat with our home loan experts to see what you can afford.

What Else Does ING Direct Offer?

ING Direct offers standard banking products, credit cards, transaction accounts and personal loans. Its features and incentives are a bit different from those of the other banks.

Because ING doesn’t have branches, it has lower overheads than Suncorp or BOQ, so it can offer a few different perks like the ING Everyday Round Up and generous cashbacks.

The ING Everyday Round Up

If you have an Orange Everyday account, ING will round up to the nearest $1 or $5 and transfer the extra amount into your home loan, helping you pay it off a little faster without even realising it.

In other words, if you have selected to round up to the nearest $5, ING will debit your purchase of $4 and then transfer $1 from your Orange Everyday Transaction Account to your selected Home Loan Account. It’s just a neat way of helping chip away at your home loan a little faster.

The Hidden Value: ING Pocket Perks & Cashbacks

While the “Round Up” feature is great for saving, ING’s real hidden value comes from its Pocket Perks. This is where ING shines compared to the “Big 4” banks—instead of confusing “rewards points” that are hard to redeem, ING gives you cold hard cash.

1% Utility Bill Cashback (Inflation Buster):
This is a massive benefit for homeowners. If you pay your eligible utility bills (water, gas, and electricity) using your Orange Everyday account (via BPAY or direct debit), ING gives you 1% cashback on those bills (capped at $100 per financial year). It might sound small, but over the life of a loan, that’s free money back in your pocket just for keeping the lights on.
Cash Rebates vs. Complex Points:
Most banks try to lure you in with credit card points that devalue over time. ING’s philosophy is simple: Cash is King. The rebates are applied directly to your account, meaning you don’t have to navigate a complex rewards store to get value from your banking.
$0 International Transaction Fees:
If you love to travel or shop online from overseas stores, this feature alone can save you hundreds. Most banks charge a 3% “currency conversion fee” on every transaction. As an eligible ING home loan customer with an Orange Everyday account, you pay $0 international transaction fees. It’s a huge perk that essentially makes your holiday spending 3% cheaper than if you used a standard bank card.

The Digital Experience: App & Online Banking

Because ING is a branchless bank, its app is the branch. For many clients (especially those used to walking into a Commonwealth Bank or Westpac branch), this can be daunting. But the reality is, the ING app is widely considered one of the best in the market.

App Ratings & Usability

The ING Australia app consistently ranks highly, boasting a 4.7-star rating on the Apple App Store. The interface is clean, simple, and designed for people who aren’t “tech wizards.” It handles the heavy lifting so you don’t have to call the call centre.

Security Features

If you are worried about security, ING has some “peace of mind” features that give you more control than most big banks:

On-Demand Card Locking: Lost your wallet? You can instantly put a “Temporary Hold” on your card via the app with one tap. If you find it 10 minutes later, you just unlock it. No need to cancel cards and wait 2 weeks for a new one.
Real-Time Notifications: You can set up alerts to ping your phone the second money leaves your account or your salary hits. This is a massive security win—if someone hacks your card, you’ll know instantly.

The "Orange Everyday" Integration

This is where the magic happens for home loan customers. When you log in, you see your Orange Advantage Home Loan and Orange Everyday transaction account side-by-side.

The “Offset” View: You can instantly see your offset balance working. The app clearly shows you how much interest you are saving, which is a great psychological boost to keep you on track with your mortgage goals.

"But I Need a Branch!"

In our experience, 99% of the reasons people visit a branch can be done on the ING app in seconds. You can:

Change your daily transaction limits (up to $20k instantly).
Activate new cards or change your PIN.
Download proof of balance or interest statements for your accountant.
Notify the bank of overseas travel.

If you do need to talk to a human, their call centre is Australian-based (operating 24/7), which is a huge plus compared to some competitors who offshore their support.

What Are Some ING Customer Reviews?

Industry Awards vs. Customer Reality

From an industry perspective, ING is a trophy-cabinet winner. They have consistently held the title of Canstar’s “Bank of the Year” (across multiple years) and regularly receive Finder’s “Highly Commended” status for Value. These awards highlight that, on paper, their products and fees are among the best in the market.

What Customers Say

However, individual customer reviews are fairly mixed. While satisfaction is high when the loan is first set up, the honeymoon period doesn’t always last. Additionally, while ING passed on rate cuts in 2025, they have moved quickly to pass on the February 2026 RBA rate hike to their variable home loan customers.

In our experience, ING is pretty good to deal with—and as we mentioned above, for any of our clients that experience rate creep (i.e. ING baits you in with a cheap rate then puts it up)—we look at renegotiating or refinancing.

Have You Been Declined By ING?

Don’t worry too much—it is more common than you think to get declined by a bank.

ING is a particularly conservative bank when it comes to assessing loan applications, and while it might offer some cheap interest rates, it can make it challenging to get your loan approved.

ING has very strict lending policies, and if you do not meet their lending policy, they are likely to decline your loan.

When applying for a home loan through ING, our best tip is for your broker to confirm you meet its income policy and the property you are looking at buying meets its requirements BEFORE you apply for a home loan.

Bonus: Some reasons why your home loan may be declined.

Changing jobs frequently. Most lenders want to see you in your current job for at least 6 months. However, your mortgage broker should be able to help you with this, especially if you are earning more in your new job.
Type of job. Since the pandemic, banks now view other types of jobs as risky, e.g. shift workers in the travel and hospitality industry.
Getting a new credit card. If you get another credit card after your preapproval, the bank may decline your loan because you no longer fit inside their calculators.
Missing bills. Missing something as small as a phone bill can badly affect your credit, resulting in your loan being declined. The solution is to automate your bill payments whenever possible so that you don’t miss any payments.
Spending habits. Banks also look at your expenses to see how much you are spending vs how much you are earning. So keep track of your expenses and maybe hold back on those expensive lunches.
Buying a house that needs renovations. Lenders are hesitant to lend money to properties that need renovations even after pre approval, and houses with no kitchens or bathrooms are a complete no.

Would you like to learn about your situation?

ING Pre Approval

As mentioned above, ING Bank used to do a full credit assessment on home loan pre-approval.

In other words, if you were applying for a pre-approval with ING, a credit manager would go through your payslips, bank accounts and additional information to ensure you meet their credit criteria. The bank would then approve your loan, subject to you finding a property.

BUT this has now changed, so don’t get caught out.

ING is now just doing a credit check if you haven’t found a property, so the pre-approval isn’t worth the paper it’s written on!

Read More: What is Pre-Approval?

How Does ING Compare To Other Banks?

The reality is each bank has its positives and negatives, and the best option for you is highly unique. However, as brokers, we see how ING stacks up against the competition every single day.

Here is the “Real World” verdict on how ING compares to the Big 4 and other online powerhouses.

ING vs. The Big 4 (CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ)

The Verdict: ING wins on price; Big 4 wins on policy.
The Detail: If you are a standard PAYG employee with a 20% deposit, ING is almost always cheaper than the Big 4. You will likely save $300+ a year in fees and get a sharper interest rate.
However: If you need a Construction Loan, the Big 4 are superior—ING simply does not offer them. Similarly, while ING does offer Family Guarantees, their policy is much stricter than the Big 4, who are generally far more flexible with guarantor structures and complex self-employed income.

ING vs. Macquarie Bank

The Verdict: Macquarie wins on speed; ING wins on “Perks.”
The Detail: Macquarie is the “Speed King” of the Australian market—we often see approvals in as little as 4 hours. ING is reliable but slower, typically taking 2–5 days (or longer during hot promo periods).
The Trade-off: Macquarie’s product is fantastic but “no frills.” ING offers the Utility Bill Cashback and ATM rebates, which can add up to real cash in your pocket. If you are in a rush to buy (e.g., Auction in 3 days), we choose Macquarie. If you have time and want ongoing rewards, we choose ING.

ING vs. Other Online Lenders (UBank, Tiimely)

The Verdict: ING feels like a “Real Bank”; others feel like “Fintechs.”
The Detail: Lenders like UBank and Tiimely often advertise slightly lower rates than ING. However, their service can be disjointed and is often heavily reliant on chat-bots.
Why ING stands out: Even though ING is online, they have a 24/7 Australian-based call centre. If something goes wrong, you can talk to a human in Australia. With many smaller online lenders, you are often stuck in an email queue.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	ING	Big 4 Banks	Macquarie
Interest Rates	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Sharp)	⭐⭐⭐ (Higher)	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Sharp)
Fees	Low / $0	High ($395+)	Low / $0
Approval Speed	Average (2-5 Days)	Fast (1-2 Days)	🚀 Lightning (Hours)
Offset Account	✅ Yes (100%)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Construction Loans	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Family Guarantor	⚠️ Yes (Strict)	✅ Yes (Flexible)	✅ Yes
Best For…	Everyday Value	Complex Deals	Speed & Tech

Frequently Asked Questions About ING Home Loans

Does ING do Family Guarantee / Guarantor loans?

Yes, ING offers a “Family Guarantee” where a family member can use their property equity to help you secure a loan. This is great for first-home buyers trying to avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

How long does ING settlement take?

ING is generally reliable with settlements, usually requiring 10-15 business days from formal approval to settlement. However, during peak promo periods, this can stretch, so always allow a buffer.

Does ING offer construction loans?

No, ING stopped offering construction loans in 2018. If you plan to build or do major structural renovations, you will need to look at other lenders.

Does ING lend on small apartments?

Yes, ING is excellent for apartments. They generally accept units with a minimum living area of 40sqm (excluding balcony/car space), whereas many big banks require 50sqm.

Can I get an ING home loan if I’m self-employed?

Yes, but you typically need 2 years of tax returns. However, ING is generally stricter with self-employed income verification compared to specialist non-bank lenders.

What is the maximum LVR for ING investment loans?

ING typically lends up to 90% LVR for investment properties, but you will need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) if your deposit is under 20%.

Does ING have a 'rate lock' fee?

Yes, if you want to lock in a fixed rate before settlement, ING charges a Rate Lock fee (typically around $395 or 0.15% of the loan amount), valid for 90 days.

Can I split my ING loan?

Yes, on the Orange Advantage and Mortgage Simplifier products, you can split your loan into fixed and variable portions to get the certainty of fixed repayments with the flexibility of an offset account.

Ready To Take The Next Step Toward Buying?

Our team at Hunter Galloway is here to help you determine whether or not ING is the best bank for you.

Unlike other mortgage brokers who are just one-person operations, we have an entire team of experts dedicated to helping make your home loan journey as simple as possible.

If you want to get started, please call us on 1300 088 065 or book a free assessment online to see how we can help.

hunter galloway - mortgage broker brisbane team — Our team of home loan experts is here to help you buy a home in Australia.