In order to further simplify its customers' financial world, ING DIRECT today announced a marketing alliance with Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) that allows consumers to download current ING DIRECT account information into Quicken without needing to manually enter transaction data. As a result, customers can better manage their complete financial picture. In addition, this alliance gives ING DIRECT customers the opportunity to prepare and file their federal and state income tax returns online with Intuit's Quicken TurboTax for the WebSM service at a 15 percent discount.
"Intuit was a natural choice for us when it came to forging an alliance," said Arkadi Kuhlmann, President and CEO of ING DIRECT. " Millions of customers are managing their finances with Quicken because it is so easy to use. At ING DIRECT, we are leading Americans back to saving by providing simple financial products. Any ING DIRECT customer or Quicken user interested in both managing their finances and saving money in a straightforward manner will benefit from this alliance."
Through the new relationship with Intuit, ING DIRECT is offering consumers the convenience of downloading their account statements directly into Quicken using Open Financial Exchange (OFX), the industry standard for the exchange of electronic financial information over the Internet. With this connectivity, downloading current ING DIRECT statement information into Quicken is simple through Quicken's One-Step Update feature.
"Quicken has long been a key tool for tracking personal financial data," noted Kuhlmann. "The ability to access ING DIRECT account information through Quicken helps customers gain control of their finances and save time. By downloading their financial transactions into a location where they store the remainder of their financial data, customers are able to better analyze their income and expenses, as well as implement a savings plan through the use of calculators and other planners."
The alliance will also provide ING DIRECT customers with the opportunity to save time and money at tax time by preparing and filing their federal and state tax returns with TurboTax for the Web, the most popular online tax service, at a 15 percent discount.
"ING DIRECT customers already understand the benefits of using simple and convenient financial management tools," said Bob Meighan, vice president of Intuit's Consumer Tax Group. "With TurboTax for the Web, they can now quickly and easily prepare and file their taxes online. And with the additional savings for ING DIRECT customers, TurboTax for the Web is a greater value than ever before."
Headquartered in Wilmington, DE, ING DIRECT is the operating name of ING Bank, fsb (Member FDIC), a federally chartered savings bank, and part of ING Group (NYSE: ING), one of the largest financial institutions in the world. ING DIRECT has more than 300,000 customers and more than $4 billion in assets. For product information or to open an account, visit ingdirect.com or call 1-800-ING-DIRECT.
