ING Turkey CEO Gökgöz: We expect 22% inflation in 2026.

ING Turkey General Manager Alper Gökgöz's Evaluations

ING Turkey General Manager Alper Gökgöz emphasized in his statements during the Banking Talks that 2025 will be a year of accelerating digital transformation for the banking sector. He noted that customer expectations are shaped around speed, simplicity, and seamless experiences.

Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence

Gökgöz pointed out that artificial intelligence and new generation technologies are accelerating digital transformation in banking, stating, “Digital banking has brought banks to mobile. With artificial intelligence, banking itself is also entering mobile.”

The Future of Banking and Customer Centricity

Emphasizing the importance of reliability and a solid balance sheet, Gökgöz conveyed that value is defined at digital touchpoints. As one of the banks predicting digital change, ING aims to offer simpler and more accessible banking by deepening its strategies with a digital-first approach.

Regional Economy and Performance Improvement

Gökgöz stated, “Banking is an inevitable necessity for the Turkish economy, but banks are no longer the only players.” He noted that they prioritize solutions that provide clear benefits to customers. As of the third quarter of 2025, he stated that assets amounted to 266.3 billion lira, while net profit reached 2 billion lira.

Deposit and Credit Growth

He mentioned that the deposit size has reached 173.1 billion lira and that they recorded a 33% increase in deposits and a 34% increase in asset sizes compared to the end of the year. He also reported that the credit support provided rose by 36%.

2026 Inflation Expectation

Gökgöz predicted that the annual inflation rate would be around %22 at the end of 2026. He expressed that he expects the dollar/TL exchange rate to be approximately 51 by the end of 2026. He also emphasized that the Medium-Term Program announced in September would support disinflation.

Policy Rate and Economic Dynamics

Gökgöz stated that he expects the policy rate to be around %27 at the end of 2026, but noted that this would depend on foreign exchange reserves, growth expectations, and the labor market. He underscored that the Central Bank will continue to take measures against fluctuations in the inflation outlook.