International
solutions
Working in partnership
Liquidity management -
area of growth
profile of the cliënt, notonlyfrom a
financial perspective but also from the
perspective of operational and
environmental risk.'
After measuring both the impact and
probability of risk, mitigating instruments
to cover risk can be recommended.
That's where we bring in mainly
Corporate Insurance, Treasury and Cash
Management products. In this way, we
can probably cover 80% of a company's
risk, and this is what we are focusing on at
the moment,' says Nijs.
'Rabobank acts as an agency for bank
transactions,' says Nijs, 'and because we
don't have processing hubs all over the
world, we have partnerships with the
best processing banks we can find. And
with 150 years of working with partners -
as this is the origination of working with
member banks in the Rabo organisation -
we're pretty good at it!' he exclaims. 'With
this set-up, we can build or improve a
presence in most countries, beginning
with servicing our Dutch Corporates in
Europe. Rabobank can then act as
mediator for the implementation of the
multi-banking concept, keeping the
master account with Rabobank, and
that's where the money ends up.'
explains Nijs.
'Now, with new technology and the
Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)
emerging, a large portion of the work
can be done via the Internet and by
connecting with the hub in the
Netherlands, and without huge
investments. This is a very exciting
prospect, internationally as well, and
while most network banks have to write
off their expenses, we can link directly
with the best processing hubs by means
of new technology,' according to Nijs.
'Our philosophy needs to be put into
practice now, and after defining our
strategy, we need to consider rolling
out Financial Logistics in Europe and
internationally, but more research is
needed for that,' says Nijs. 'Linking
liquidity control with a range of flexible
investment opportunities is the kind of
joint thinking the Corporates need from
their bankers,' Nijs explains. 'After
setting out the process in bringing
liquidity management under control
by using tools such as cross-border
sweeps to centralise cash, Corporates
then require a complete range of
investment products.'
'The decision to support our Dutch clients
internationally only, or to sell these kind
of solutions to other European prospects,
depends on a much broader discussion,
namely, is Rabobank aiming to become a
full service Wholesale Bank for Europe or
not. In any case, with Financial Logistics
we can facilitate both strategies,' says Nijs.
Financial Logistics is already up and
running for the large Corporates in The
Netherlands. 'Our pipeline is getting
stronger every day and the first deals
have already been booked!'
'Most Rabobank staff and clients are not aware that we hold an excellent international position
due to partner banking and that we can provide the best international solutions as a result of our
strong relationships with domestic banks,' says Diejana van der Wal, Product Manager for
Rabobank International Cash Management. 'We have service level agreements with foreign
banks, so we can offer reliable, convenient service by creating a single point of access for all ICM
offerings. Streamlining the process means that, despite partner banking, clients feel they are
doing business with only one bank, Rabobank. We're currently developing an action plan to
improve our international services,' says Van der Wal, 'and we've developed a marketing and
communication strategy to get the message across toall relevant audiences.'
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