BANKING giant Barclays has agreed to buy savings and mortgage business ING Direct UK in a deal that will see it add another 1.5 million customers.

The acquisition will boost Barclays’ savings business by £10.9bn and its mortgage book by £5.6bn.

Barclays, which will also take on around 750 ING Direct employees, said it would honour existing terms and conditions for ING Direct customers.