Profile of Rabobank Group
Source: Report 2009, chapter Profile of Rabobank Group, page 96
Rabobank Group is an international financial services provider operating on the basis of cooperative principles. It offers retail banking, wholesale banking, asset management, leasing and real estate services. Focus is on all-finance services in the Netherlands and on food and agribusiness internationally. Rabobank Group is comprised of independent local Rabobanks plus Rabobank Nederland, their umbrella organisation, and a number of specialist subsidiaries. The group entities maintain strong mutual ties. Rabobank Group’s total employee base numbers about 59,000 FTEs, who serve about 9.5 million clients in 48 countries.
In terms of tier 1 capital, Rabobank Group is among the world’s 25 largest financial institutions. Rabobank Group has the highest credit rating (triple A), awarded by rating agencies Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investor Service and DBRS.
The 147 local Rabobanks in the Netherlands are Rabobank Group’s cooperative core business. Together, they employ approximately 28,000 FTEs. Committed, nearby and leading in their service offering, they serve about 6.7 million retail clients and about 0.8 million corporate clients in the Netherlands, offering a comprehensive range of financial services. With 1,010 branches, which operate 3,063 cash-dispensing machines, Rabobank forms the densest banking network in the Netherlands. The local Rabobanks seeks to offer their customers the best possible services by leveraging different distribution channels, including the branch network, and online and telephone services. Rooted in the bank’s cooperative structure, clients can become members of their local Rabobank. The local Rabobanks, for their part, are members and shareholders of Rabobank Nederland, the umbrella cooperative that supports their local service provision.
Rabobank Nederland monitors, on behalf of the Dutch Central Bank (DNB), the business practices, outsourcing, solvency and liquidity of the local Rabobanks. It also acts as the holding company of a number of specialist subsidiaries, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Rabobank Nederland has an employee base of about 6,200 FTEs.
Rabobank International – the wholesale banking and international retail banking divisions of Rabobank Group – has an employee base of about 14,500 FTEs, including the foreign subsidiaries. Boasting a network in 30 countries and 528 foreign places of business, Rabobank International is a well-known player in the world’s key markets.
Rabo Development supports the advancement of a banking infrastructure in developing countries by acquiring non-controlling interests in rural banks and offering them expertise and human capital.
Rabobank Foundation helps vulnerable and underprivileged groups in and outside the Netherlands by contributing funds, human resources and knowledge.
Rabobank Group is a driving and innovating force working in the common interest of individuals and communities, offering the best possible financial solutions to help them achieve their ambitions. In doing so, Rabobank Group wants to be the largest, best, most customer-oriented and innovative financial institution in the Netherlands while at the same time contributing to the sustainable development of prosperity and well-being. Corporate social responsibility has been integrated into its core activities. On a global level, Rabobank Group aspires to be the best food and agribusiness bank, with a strong presence in key food and agriculture countries. For this purpose, Rabobank Group harnesses the knowledge and expertise it has accumulated in the Netherlands. Rabobank Group also wants to achieve global excellence in corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
Rabobank Group has four core values, which extend naturally from its mission and ambition: respect, integrity, professionalism and sustainability. Mindful of these values, Rabobank Group offers its clients all the financial services they need as they participate in an economy-driven modern society. Rabobank Group respects the culture and traditions of the countries where it operates without losing sight of its own objectives and values, and of legal and regulatory constraints.