Membership policy
For many years, attracting new members has been high on the
agenda of Rabobank's membership policy. Together, the local
Rabobanks currently have over 1.6 million members. In recent
years, the focus has been shifted to actually engaging members
in the activities of local Rabobanks. Member influence and control
were assured in recent years, partly by the establishment of
member councils. Despite the scaling up on a local level, new
initiatives have ensured that the bank has remained committed
and near to the local community.
And indeed, this will be taken further. The goal now
is to deepen this social engagement even further,
towards actual embedment in society through
"cooperative dividend", as Rabobank calls it. A great
deal was achieved in this area in 2006 and in this
way, Rabobank gives substance to its drive to be
leading in its sector.
Strategy and targets
Enhance member engagement further.
Optimise member influence.
Support social initiatives in the community where
a local Rabobank operates.
In recent years, extensive research was done as
to whether members should be offered benefits
individually through a member benefit system.
Although members have enjoyed the benefit
of the Member certificates for a number of
years, the emphasis until recently was on offers
of a non-banking nature. Since 2005 however,
more offers in the areas of insurance and
savings have become open to members.
Thus, members are eligible for discounts on
the Interpolis Zorg Actief policy. This resulted
in more than 100,000 new insurance policies
in 2006. Members also receive extra interest
on the Rabo Levensloop Sparen, life-span leave
arrangement, which was launched late in 2006.
82 Rabobank Group Annual Report 2006
