America's Greatest Daredevil Kaptain Robbie Knievel Performs Jaw-Dropping 150-Foot Jump at ING DIRECT Independence Ride 2007

Business Wire, June 8, 2007

Hundreds of Harley Riders, Steve Miller Band and Robbie Knievel Join ING DIRECT for Day-Long Event to Benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association and ING DIRECT Kids Foundation

WILMINGTON, Del. -- ING DIRECT, the nation's largest direct bank, has partnered with the Eastern Harley-Davidson Dealers Association to host Independence Ride 2007 on Saturday, June 9th. Legendary daredevil Kaptain Robbie Knievel, ING DIRECT CEO Arkadi Kuhlmann and hundreds of motorcyclists will kick off Independence Ride 2007 at 2 p.m. at FDR Park in Philadelphia. The 60-mile ride to Wilmington, DE will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and the ING DIRECT Kids Foundation. The organizations will collectively receive $175,000 in donations from ING DIRECT at the event.

The riders are expected to roar into Frawley Stadium in Wilmington after 3:00 p.m., at which time the festival on the Wilmington Riverfront begins. Free and open to the public throughout the day are ING DIRECT tethered hot air balloon rides, local band performances and a motorcycle showcase. Festival highlights include a jaw-dropping motorcycle jump by America's Greatest Daredevil Kaptain Robbie Knievel over a "mountain of money," representing the $4.6 billion that ING DIRECT customers have earned in interest since 2000. The event will conclude with a live concert at 7:30 p.m. by the chart-topping Steve Miller Band (rider registration, which includes a concert ticket, is $30 in advance and available on www.independenceride.com).

"It's all about the Kids on June 9th," said Arkadi Kuhlmann, President and CEO of ING DIRECT, who will lead Independence Ride 2007 on his own Harley. "This day will combine two of my favorite things - kids and bikes - and raise money to add more independence to a child's life. We are proud to host a celebration with so many exciting events for the residents of Delaware and the surrounding area. ING DIRECT breaks away from traditional banks in everything we do, and this day will be no exception."

Steve Miller Band exploded onto the music scene in 1973 with their hit "The Joker," and through the years has been known for such hits as "Fly Like an Eagle" and "Abracadabra." The Steve Miller Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. and ticket proceeds will benefit the ING DIRECT Kids Foundation and the MDA. Kaptain Robbie Knievel, son of legendary daredevil Evel Knievel, has completed over 250 jumps and has set 20 world records, which include the famous Caesars Palace Fountain jump and Grand Canyon jump.

In addition to the performances, ING DIRECT will raffle a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, with a $1,500 customization package. Registrants for the ride from Philadelphia to Wilmington are automatically entered into the Harley giveaway.

For additional information on Independence Ride 2007 or to register for the event, please visit www.savekidsnow.org. For the MDA, please visit www.mda.org.

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About ING DIRECT

ING DIRECT, the nation's largest direct bank and fourth-largest thrift, is dedicated to inspiring Americans to become a nation of savers. Since its inception in 2000, more than 5 million Americans have entrusted their savings with ING DIRECT, building the bank to $65 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.

About the Muscular Dystrophy Association

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health agency working to defeat neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.

MDA was founded in 1950 is the largest nongovernmental sponsor of neuromuscular disease research. More than 1 million Americans are affected by neuromuscular diseases. About 250,000 have some form of muscular dystrophy.

Included in the more than 40 neuromuscular diseases covered by MDA are nine forms of muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), myasthenia gravis, spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and others.

MDA is the first nonprofit agency to be recognized by the American Medical Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award for "significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity."

About ING DIRECT Kids Foundation

The ING DIRECT Kids Foundation is a Delaware non-profit corporation, which was developed to improve the quality of life of children and adolescents. The Foundation's focus is assisting children in low-income areas. It is the intention of the Foundation to utilize its resources to fulfill the capacities of children and the adults around them by: improving opportunities for human development, enhancing creativity, and maintaining healthy communities by focusing on financial literacy, homeownership opportunities for families, youth programs and addressing the digital divide.

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