ING brings back its referral scheme: up to €150 for new customers

ING offers €150 for bringing a friend: the fine print few people read

ING's customer referral promotion is back, and with it the classic dilemma: straightforward reward or bureaucratic trap? From 7 July to 30 August 2026, the orange bank offers €150 gross to anyone who opens a Cuenta Nómina (salary account) and a Cuenta Naranja (current account) using the ID number of an existing customer and meets certain income requirements. The key condition: having a salary, pension or benefit paid in, or transferring at least €700 a month for six consecutive months, before 31 October. A customer acquisition tactic that, on paper, sounds like easy money.

Mixed experiences: getting paid or not?

The reality, as always, lies in the details. One person who already tried it says they referred a family member to the offer and were rejected for not meeting the conditions. "I'm not bringing anyone else," they sum up. On the opposite side, one user says they recommended several contacts who did get paid. The discrepancy suggests the key is in the fine print: regular transfers, deadlines and, according to a theory circulating online, even an "acouple photo" to prove the friendship — a requirement that doesn't exist in the official terms but has become a meme among veterans.

€150 with conditions: is it worth it?

The mechanics are simple: the referrer provides their ID number, the new customer opens both accounts and makes the required transfers. If everything fits, the payment arrives before October. The main risk falls on the new customer: if a single monthly transfer fails, they lose the bonus and the chance to try again (the offer is for first-timers only). For the referrer, the only cost is the time spent managing the process. In a low-rate environment, €150 for six months of loyal custom isn't a bad deal for the bank. For the user, the question is whether €150 makes up for the hassle of maintaining the €700 monthly flow for half a year. With the Euribor at elevated levels, it might not be the worst way to scrape together some liquidity.