Rabobank invests in emerging
distribution channels
With the cyclical upturn, the number of start-up
enterprises began to rise again, particularly in
business services, non-food retail and the
building industry. This trend was illustrated in
the 30th issue of Rabobank's annual Figures
Trends publication, which did extensive
research of developments in 80 industries in
the Dutch small and medium-sized enterprises
sector (SME). Since its going digital in 2006,
Figures Trends contains even more infor
mation and is more up to date. The number
of small and medium-sized enterprises showed
a significant 6% increase in 2006 to 731,000.
In line with previous years, the number of agri
cultural enterprises declined in the year under
review, although the market volume continued
to rise.
The local Rabobanks wish to be and remain
'near to' their clients. For optimum contact with
clients, Rabobank therefore worked hard to
invest in alternative distribution channels,
including www.rabobank.nl, Rabo TV banking
and Rabo Mobiel.
Due to mergers, the number of local
Rabobanks fell from 248 to 188. However, with
1,214 (1,249) branch offices, Rabobank is still
the bank with the densest network by far in
the Netherlands. Due to the increase in the
number of cash back points, among other
things, the number of physical client interface
points grew by 2% to 3,091 (3,031). Cash back
points enable clients to draw cash at retailers.
The number of cash dispensing machines
was virtually unchanged at 3,139 (3,116) at
31 December 2006.
The www.rabobank.nl site was renewed in
early 2006. Clients appreciated the improved
website and on 24 May 2006, it saw a record of
nearly 770,000 hits. The website was awarded
the title of website of the year in the financial
products and services category by 'Website of
the Year'. In addition, the Rabobank site won
the Usability Award 2006. A survey by TNS
NIPO showed that 42% of Dutch households
using the Internet for their banking affairs, use
Rabo Internet banking. In 2006, Rabobank
launched the Rabo NotaBox, enabling private
clients to receive digital invoices and giro
collection forms from companies via Internet
banking. Rabobank also launched Rabo TV
banking, i.e. secure Internet banking on tele
vision using the remote control. In addition,
Rabobank developed Readspeaker, a functio
nality for the visually handicapped that reads
out the website texts.
Late in 2006, Rabobank was the first European
bank to introduce mobile banking and low-
cost telephony as a combined feature. Rabo
Mobiel enables clients to transfer money
quickly, conveniently and safely. Rabobank
expects that in the near future, many clients
will want to manage their bank affairs via their
mobile telephones.
Market shares
Mortgages
Savings
They can also view their
bank balances any time and
anywhere and keep up to date
with the financial news. In addi
tion, it is tomorrow's purse:
soon, clients will be able to use
their mobile phones to pay in
shops and buy train and
entrance tickets. Rabo Mobiel is
a joint project of Rabobank,
multimedia company Talpa and
telecom provider Orange.
26 Rabobank Group Annual Report 2006
