ING Employee Benefits Develops New Whole Life Product

PRNewswire-FirstCall
MINNEAPOLIS
Sep 14, 2004

ING today announced a new whole life insurance product. Horizon Whole Life insurance is designed to be utilized in the voluntary and worksite marketing arena.

A leader in traditional group insurance benefits and voluntary insurance products, ING Employee Benefits offers a variety of insurance products through ReliaStar Life Insurance Company and its affiliates to supplement the core benefits provided by the employer. Horizon Whole Life Insurance is conveniently offered on a payroll deduction basis and provides guaranteed level premiums, portability, death benefits and cash values. Several additional features are also available:

   - Guaranteed Issue:  Guaranteed Issue underwriting offers are available
     for qualified employer groups.
   - Spouse and Dependent Coverage:  Horizon Whole Life insurance is
     available to eligible employees, spouses and dependent children and
     grandchildren. Spouse and dependent policies are available even if the
     eligible employee does not purchase a policy for themselves.
   - Competitive Riders:  A number of optional riders are available with the
     product, including an Accelerated Benefit Rider, Accidental Death
     Benefit Rider, Children's Term Insurance Rider, and Waiver of Premium
     Rider. In addition, the new Level Term to 65 rider allows policy owners
     to increase death benefits during the "working years" when death
     benefits are needed most.
   - Competitive Compensation Programs:  Horizon Whole Life offers
     competitive compensation programs to reward producers for both the
     quantity and quality of business sold.

"We are pleased to offer this new competitive whole life product," said Curt Olson, head of sales, ING Employee Benefits. "We look for ways to meet the needs of the marketplace by offering consumers financial protection and whole life insurance is designed to provide a base of life insurance coverage that is guaranteed for a lifetime."

ReliaStar Life Insurance Company is a member of the ING family of companies. Each insurer is solely responsible for the financial obligations under the policies or contracts it issues.

About ING

ING Groep N.V. is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to over 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 115,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

In the U.S., the ING family of companies offer a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier

rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://www.ing.com/ .

Press inquiries: Caroline Campbell, ING U.S. Financial Services,

770-618-3801

SOURCE: ING Employee Benefits

CONTACT: Caroline Campbell of ING U.S. Financial Services,
+1-770-618-3801

Web site: http://www.ing-usa.com/