ING DIRECT Launches Bold Media Campaign "We The Savers" Challenging U.S. Consumers to Save and Invest

Wilmington, DE - November 26, 2008 - ING DIRECT, the nation's largest direct bank, announces a far-reaching media campaign urging Americans to save. Participants will be able to sign the online "Declaration of Financial Independence;" participate in and read informative online polls; and use "We the Savers" savings calculators, social networking, online forums and more. ING DIRECT's campaign also rolls through the streets of New York, consumer capital of the world, with Taxi TV spots and taxi-top signs imploring you to "Save a spender."

"We the Savers" launches on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and historically a major consumer rush. The savings message is particularly important this Black Friday since, according to a recent ING DIRECT survey, Americans plan to spend the same amount or more on holiday gifts this year, despite current economic challenges. Savings accounts, stocks, and bonds were once popular holiday gifts, but more than half of those surveyed now feel neither comfortable nor able to give these investment-based gifts.

"Prudent, ongoing savings plans have always been fundamental to financial independence and success," explained Arkadi Kuhlmann, CEO of ING DIRECT USA. "In these challenging financial times, the importance of savings and well-balanced investments couldn't be clearer."

ING DIRECT not only shows consumers how to become savers but provides them with the tools for the process. ING DIRECT products such as Orange Savings Accounts and stocks offered through ShareBuilder can be opened and funded completely online. The ING DIRECT website also allows Declaration signers to interact with other savers through the Savers' Forum, participate in weekly polls and compare their state’s savings trends to those of the rest of the country.

"With ING DIRECT's online tools, savers can see the real advantages of saving and pass along that knowledge to people in their online networks," added Kuhlmann. "Since reversing long-term spending habits can be difficult, ING DIRECT has made saving as straightforward and understandable as possible for new savers and investors."

About ING DIRECT

ING DIRECT, the nation's largest direct bank, is dedicated to inspiring Americans to become a nation of savers. Since its inception in 2000, more than 7.3 million Americans have entrusted their savings with ING DIRECT, building the bank to $81 billion in assets. For more information on ING DIRECT or to learn more about the bank's high-value products, including the Orange Savings Account and the Orange Mortgage, visit www.ingdirect.com or call 1-800-ING DIRECT.

Style note to Editors: ING DIRECT is always capitalized and never referred to as ING.