The values of Rabobank
were true to my family
and they remain
true today within
the bank
Dear colleagues,
Welcome to the latest edition of Rl World. This issue's theme is The cooperative way of working
across Rabobank Group', and it is this cooperative structure that has been the foundation of
our bank's success over its more than 110-year history. The cooperative bank was founded to
benefit those people struggling to get financial resources in the community. Although driven
by a sense of community purpose, the method was firmly based on solid business principles.
These included the requirement to share equaliy, to stand by customers in their time of need,
and reserve profits for further growth.
And the core values of the cooperative remain the same today. Rabobank is a bank that looks
from the outside in - or to put it another way, we organise ourselves so that customer input
impacts the way we do business. We also approach business and customer involvement with
a long-term perspective, which is why we value solid growth, strong profits, and stability as
much as we do. Within Rural Retail, our values are encapsulated in the Kitchen Table strategy,
which is where we develop a relationship with the inner circle of our clients, and give them the
commitment that if we work together, we can help them realise their ambitions. It is only by
forging such close relationships that we really get to know our customers and how they run
their business.
As the son of farmers in Brazil, I grew up with the kitchen table concept. I also remember
how important the discussions with stakeholders were, and I also remember the trust that
was needed to develop a solid and fruitful relationship that would survive the highs and the
lows of being in business. The values of Rabobank were true to my family and me, and they
remain true today within the bank. It's also important to remember that our corporate values
transcend borders. And although every part of the organisation lives the values, we need
to recognise that many of the values translate differently around the world due to cultural
reasons. We have to respect this and adapt to it. We need to realise that we are on a journey
together, and it's a long journey. I invite you all tojoin us on this challenge!
Kind regards,
ISSUE 29 jctober ?o 11 RI WORLD
