1989: The fall of the Berlin Wall prompts a wave of requests from official sources to Western financial institutions to assist in the transformation of former Eastern Bloc banks and insurers into properly commercial institutions. ING participates in several of these initiatives in banking and post-banking, and consolidates this new financial sector consulting business as a legal subsidiary of ING Bank. Through the 1990s, ING develops an impressive track record in the provision of assistance to donors, governments and financial institutions, primarily in central and eastern Europe. Some assignments are carried out in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean during this period as well.

1997-99: The Asian & Russian financial crises lead to a dramatic rise in demand for bank restructuring and (re-)privatisation. ING’s consulting business grows rapidly, particularly in Asia, and is renamed “ÏGA” (for “Institutional & Government Advisory”) as a part of the corporate finance practice in the financial sector. IGA’s work is re-focused on direct mandates from commercial clients in the areas of institutional development for commercial banks, as well as postbank development. A pensions and insurance element was added from 1997. Work for international donor organisations relatively declines in importance.

Post-crisis: The introduction of IFRS & Basel II – and the associated capital management, market and operational risk requirements provide further impetus to growth. Interim management services are added to IGA’s business.

Post-“9-11”: The inter-bank business of international banking groups such as ING is heavily impacted by the passage of the USA Patriot Act and Sarbanes-Oxley Act, along with heightened requirements for anti money-laundering and anti-terrorist financing measures. These developments substantially raise the cost of doing financial sector-related business in emerging markets for major banking groups.

2005-6: ING re-focuses its wholesale banking business on core markets and activities. Emerging market financial sector business is restricted generally, reducing the commercial logic for maintaining a financial sector advisory capability.

December 2006: In order to continue facilitating clients, the ING “IGA” activities are transferred to existing management, supported by SEAF and GCF in a management buy-out. The business continues, in new form and with a broader focus, as “Financial Access” from January 2007.