Especially special
Payments
Savings
'Since 1999, Rabobank's historical heritage is managed
professionally. We collect documents, objects, photo
graphs and film footage, file these materials and make
them accessible through exhibitions and articles. The book
"The other bank" describes to a broad circle of readers
what Rabobank stands for - how it developed from an
agricultural loans bank into an international provider of
financial services while retaining its co-operative charac
ter. Its particular ownership structure and decision
making processes and the lively internal discussions on
those themes - it's all in the book.And when you're loo
king into all those things, it makes you realise just how
special this organisation is and how important it is to
keep that heritage alive and exciting.'
Rabobank Group Annual Report 2002
Stefan de Boer, company historian,
Rabobank Nederland
Lending to trade, industry and services
Lending to enterprises in the trade, industry and services sector
rose by 7% in 2002. At year-end, total loans amounted to EUR 33.7
(31.5) billion.The strongest growth was from enterprises in the
health care sector and in the building industry.
Higher market share in trade, industry and services
In 2002, Rabobank maintained its clear market leadership in the
small and medium-sized businesses sector (up to 100 employees).
The Bank's market share rose to 39%. 37% of one-man businesses
bank with Rabobank. For enterprises with 2 to 10 employees, this
figure is 42% and for enterprises with 10 to 100 employees, it is 36%.
Lending to the agricultural sector
Lending to the agricultural sector increased by 5%, to EUR 17.7
(16.8) billion at year-end.
Market share in the agricultural sector remains high
Rabobank's historically strong ties with the agricultural sector are
reflected in its very high market share of 83%.The local banks' mar
ket share declined from 87% to 83% owing to the growing number
of business closures in this sector and fierce competition.
RaboDealAssist for small and medium-sized businesses
After the introduction of real-time payments for businesses in 2001,
services were expanded further with the introduction of
RaboDealAssist in October. Fast and simple, it enables businesses to
perform spot and forward transactions as well as currency swaps
via the Internet. Clients who actively hedge currency exposure can
continually monitor trade prices. Moreover, telephone waiting
queues are a thing of the past.
Chipknip's definitive breakthrough
Due in part to the euro, use of the Chipknip electronic purse showed
explosive growth.The number of Chipknip transactions more than
doubled in 2002. Its use by the elderly and the handicapped also
showed strong growth. An increasing number of care institutions
and homes for the elderly have adopted the Chipknip as a replace
ment for cash. In the year under review, the number of load points
increased from 1,821 to 1,859.
With 40% of the market, Rabobank Group is the clear leader in the
Dutch savings market. Of the total savings in the Netherlands, 37%
are held with local Rabobanks and 3% with Roparco, the savings
arm of Robeco Group.
