Retail banking
Rabobank Group's retail banking business main
tained its market leadership positions in 2003,
although its market share in the savings market is
under pressure. In the small and medium-sized
businesses sector, Rabobank became market
leader in all subsectors in 2003. Operating profit
of the retail banking business increased by 18%.
Private clients
Increased market share in mortgage loans
Stagnation on the housing ladder
Retail banking 29
Helping clients achieve their financial ambitions - that is the mission of
the retail banking business, which is performed mainly by the local
Rabobanks collectively. To that end, they offer their clients a broad and
coherent package of financial services and products in the fields of
lending, savings, investment, insurance and leasing.
Lending to private individuals, which predominantly consists of mortgage
loans, rose by EUR 11.1 billion in 2003 to EUR 110.1 billion,an increase of
11%. Rabobank's market share in mortgage loans (in monetary terms)
rose from 25.5% to 25.7%, with a particularly good performance in the
home buying market. In contrast, the market share in the mortgage
renewal market fell by 2%. The market share of the local banks was
21.6%.Obvion increased its market share by 1% to 4.1%.
The housing market is stagnating, with few affordable homes on offer
for newcomers both in the renting and the owner-occupied markets. As
a result, this group is forced to either adjust or postpone its housing
plans. In the higher residential segment, many consumers are staying
put. In order to bring owner-occupied houses within reach of first-time
buyers again, Rabobank introduced the Generation mortgage in 2003.
This mortgage allows (grand)parents to help their (grand)children to
buy a house through co-debtorship, loans or gifts.The Flow-through
mortgage, which was also introduced in the year under review, promotes
progression in the housing market. Many potential buyers are cautious
about purchasing a new house because their current homes are taking
longer to sell.The Flow-through mortgage enables people wishing to
move up the housing ladder to realise their home ambitions.
attract 75 members when we set it up
last year. A lawyer, retail entrepreneurs, a
civil-law notary, beauticians, GPs, a farmer,
to name but a few. It is a diverse group of
women.Our network is called Isis, Women
in Business, after the goddess: a strong
woman and a devoted mother. Our aim is
to network and to learn.We meet four
times a year, for example for a discussion
evening or a site visit. Useful evenings,
we are not interested in tea parties.
Another benefit is being able to contact
each other and to help each other.'
