SKN | ING Partners With Gigs to Launch Travel eSIM Across Nine Markets, Expanding Its Digital Banking Ecosystem

 

Key Points

•  ING has partnered with Gigs to introduce travel eSIM services directly through its mobile banking application, beginning in the Netherlands.
• Following the initial launch, the service will expand to Poland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Romania, Turkey, and Australia.
• The initiative reflects a broader strategy among financial institutions to integrate lifestyle services into digital banking platforms, strengthening customer engagement, subscription revenue opportunities, and cross-border service capabilities.

ING Expands Its Banking Proposition Through Embedded Mobile Connectivity

ING is expanding its digital banking ecosystem through a partnership with Gigs, a provider of embedded mobile connectivity services, to offer international travel data directly through its mobile banking application.

The new eSIM service launches initially in the Netherlands, with eight additional markets scheduled to follow: Poland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Romania, Turkey, and Australia.

The initiative forms part of ING’s broader tiered subscription strategy, which combines everyday banking services with additional lifestyle benefits.

For the bank, the development represents a strategic expansion beyond conventional financial products. By integrating travel connectivity into its existing application, ING aims to make its digital platform more relevant to customers’ everyday activities and international mobility requirements.

The proposition also creates an opportunity to strengthen customer relationships through services that extend beyond payments, deposits, lending, and traditional banking transactions.

Embedded Connectivity Becomes a New Dimension of Digital Banking

The partnership reflects a broader transformation in how financial institutions approach customer experience.

Traditional mobile banking applications have primarily focused on financial transactions, account management, payments, and investment services. However, competition among digital banking providers is increasingly encouraging institutions to develop broader ecosystems that address customers’ non-financial requirements.

International connectivity represents a particularly relevant opportunity because travel frequently introduces additional costs and operational inconveniences for consumers.

Customers often need to purchase local SIM cards, download separate travel applications, or pay international roaming charges to maintain mobile data access abroad.

By integrating eSIM purchasing and access directly into its banking application, ING seeks to simplify this process and provide connectivity through an established customer relationship.

ING’s Global Head of Private Individuals Banking, Sali Salieski, emphasized that customers increasingly expect banking services to be simple, flexible, and aligned with their lifestyles.

This approach positions digital banking applications as broader service platforms rather than simply channels for accessing financial accounts.

Gigs Provides the Technology Infrastructure Behind the Partnership

Gigs provides the embedded mobile infrastructure that enables companies outside the telecommunications industry to offer mobile connectivity through their existing digital platforms.

Its technology allows banks, travel companies, and technology businesses to integrate mobile services without independently building the underlying telecommunications infrastructure.

For ING, this partnership provides access to specialized connectivity capabilities while allowing the bank to maintain the customer relationship through its own application.

Gigs founder and CEO Hermann Frank described mobile connectivity as an increasingly essential service, particularly for international travellers who want to avoid expensive roaming charges and the inconvenience of managing multiple applications.

The partnership also demonstrates how telecommunications and financial services are becoming increasingly interconnected through embedded service models.

Rather than requiring customers to establish relationships with multiple providers, financial institutions can integrate selected third-party services into a unified digital experience.

Subscription Banking Creates New Opportunities for Customer Retention

ING’s travel eSIM initiative is particularly relevant within the context of its tiered subscription model.

Subscription-based banking allows institutions to package financial products with additional services and lifestyle benefits, creating differentiated propositions for customers with different requirements.

This model can potentially strengthen customer retention by increasing the practical value of maintaining an active banking relationship.

For financial institutions, the strategy also creates opportunities to diversify revenue sources and develop additional commercial relationships with technology and service providers.

However, the long-term effectiveness of these models will depend on customer adoption, pricing competitiveness, service reliability, and the ability to deliver meaningful benefits beyond conventional banking products.

The commercial opportunity is not simply the sale of mobile data. It is the potential to increase customer engagement and make the banking application a more central part of everyday financial and non-financial activity.

Closing Insights: The Evolution of Banking Into Integrated Lifestyle Ecosystems

ING’s partnership with Gigs illustrates how established financial institutions are expanding their digital propositions through embedded services and technology partnerships.

The integration of international mobile connectivity represents a practical example of how banking applications can evolve into broader lifestyle platforms, particularly for customers who regularly travel across borders.

For international wealth managers and private banking institutions, the development offers a relevant strategic lesson. Customer relationships increasingly depend on the overall quality and convenience of the services delivered through digital channels, rather than financial products alone.

The longer-term opportunity lies in integrating complementary services such as travel assistance, international payments, digital identity, insurance, and connectivity into established banking ecosystems.

However, successful implementation will require careful attention to data protection, third-party provider oversight, operational resilience, and the regulatory requirements applicable across different jurisdictions.

As embedded financial and non-financial services become more sophisticated, institutions capable of combining trusted banking relationships with practical digital solutions may strengthen their competitive positioning and customer loyalty.

For a confidential discussion regarding retail banking strategy, insurance distribution models, customer loyalty ecosystems, digital financial services, or cross-border financial innovation opportunities, contact our senior advisory team.