ING Switzerland celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Swiss operations at the beginning of June. «We are not one of those foreign banks that only show up when markets are booming. We stand by our clients through challenging times as well» says Gregory Lambillon, Country Manager of ING Wholesale Banking Switzerland, in an interview with finews. According to Lambillon, this long-term commitment is becoming an increasingly important differentiator.

Three decades after establishing its wholesale banking business in Switzerland, he believes the corporate world is entering a fundamentally different era. Whereas major market disruptions once occurred every five to ten years, geopolitical and economic crises now seem to emerge almost annually.

Banking Is Undergoing a Structural Transformation

«The world has become significantly more complex and fragmented» Lambillon says. Trade disputes, regional conflicts, political uncertainty, and technological disruption are forcing companies to adapt continuously.

In June, ING celebrated its 30th anniversary in Switzerland. (Image: courtesy)

He expects artificial intelligence to transform banking as profoundly as the internet did a generation ago. «Within 5 years, AI will be embedded in virtually every operational and business process»

From Lender to Strategic Advisor

As the environment changes, so does the role of banks. Traditional lending alone is no longer sufficient.

Banks increasingly need to help clients prepare for geopolitical risks, strengthen supply chains, safeguard liquidity, and diversify production footprints across regions. Topics such as nearshoring, currency hedging, and alternative financing structures have become critical strategic considerations.

«Our role is to guide clients through economic cycles and help them anticipate structural change before it happens» Lambillon says.

He emphasizes that ING deliberately differentiates itself from traditional strategy consulting firms. The bank does not develop corporate strategy but supports clients in executing it by combining financing capabilities with international reach and local market expertise.

Switzerland Remains a Strategic Financial Center

Despite growing uncertainty, Lambillon remains confident about Switzerland’s long-term prospects. The country continues to benefit from significant competitive advantages, ranging from asset management and commodity finance to its globally recognized pharma sector.

Maintaining that competitiveness, however, will be essential.

Gregory Lambillon from ING Switzerland. (Image: courtesy)

Following the disappearance of Credit Suisse, demand has increased for banking services supporting financial institutions and asset managers. Many firms now rely more heavily on international partners for correspondent banking, clearing, hedging, and access to global capital markets.

Business with asset managers, insurers, and private markets investors is currently expanding particularly rapidly and has become one of ING Switzerland’s fastest-growing client segments.

A Warning Against Overregulation

Lambillon is concerned about the growing regulatory burden facing the global banking industry.

While excessive regulation is not unique to Switzerland, he argues that it increasingly limits banks’ ability to fulfill their primary role: efficiently allocating capital to the real economy.

From the industry’s perspective, Switzerland therefore needs to preserve a stable and internationally competitive regulatory framework.

Pharmaceuticals Remain a Strategic Growth Sector

Healthcare and pharmaceuticals continue to represent a core growth area for ING Switzerland. The bank has established a dedicated specialist team that connects Swiss companies with sector experts across ING’s global network.

Despite increasing competition from China and India, Lambillon believes Switzerland remains exceptionally well positioned. Research and development continue to be among the country’s strongest competitive advantages.

At the same time, international competition is intensifying. Asian companies are no longer focused solely on generic drugs. Supported by artificial intelligence and accelerated development cycles, they are progressively entering the market for innovative pharmaceuticals.

The only effective response, Lambillon argues, is to continue strengthening innovation while leveraging global manufacturing and research networks more intelligently.

Data Centers and the Energy Transition Drive Investment

Globally, ING is investing heavily in future-oriented sectors, including data centers, energy infrastructure, and the energy transition. The expansion of high-performance data centers has become one of the world’s most important investment themes.

Although many projects initially emerged in the United States, growth is shifting towards Asia, where larger development sites and attractive investment conditions are available.

For ING, data centers, renewable energy, and infrastructure represent long-term structural growth opportunities closely linked to the continued expansion of artificial intelligence.

Ambitious Growth Plans for Switzerland

Over the next five years, ING aims to significantly strengthen its market position in Switzerland.

The bank plans to accelerate growth in its relationships with asset managers, private markets investors, and family offices, while expanding its financing activities in infrastructure, energy, and healthcare projects. It also intends to deepen its presence among internationally active mid-sized companies.

According to the bank, more than a dozen strategic initiatives are currently underway to accelerate the growth of its Swiss franchise.

International Talent as a Competitive Advantage

At the same time, ING continues to invest heavily in talent development. Its Swiss organization now employs professionals from 31 nationalities and maintains close partnerships with universities in Geneva, Zurich, and Lausanne.

One flagship initiative is its long-standing collaboration with the University of Geneva, whose specialized master’s program in commodity trading supplies graduates each year to ING’s 18-month rotational development program.

Looking ahead, Lambillon believes adaptability will become even more important than technical expertise alone.

«The career of the future will no longer consist of performing the same role for ten or fifteen years,» he says. «The professionals who will succeed are those who can combine technology, data literacy, and client understanding, and who are willing to continuously reinvent themselves.»