Supervisory Committee (local Rabobanks)
Member Council (local Rabobanks)
General Meeting (local Rabobanks)
Works Council (local Rabobanks)
The members of the local Supervisory Committee are nominated by the local Supervisory
Committee and appointed by the Member Council, subject to the approval of Rabobank
Nederland. One of the duties of the local Supervisory Committee is to supervise the local
cooperative Rabobank across the spectrum. This includes the Management Team's policies
and the general conduct of business at the cooperative and its operations. Key management
decisions are subject to the approval of the local Supervisory Committee. The local Supervisory
Committee also monitors compliance with internal and external rules and regulations. The local
Supervisory Committee is responsible for appointing, evaluating, suspending and removing
the members of the Management Team. Finally, the local Supervisory Committee and the
Management Team together represent the local Rabobank, as a member of Rabobank
Nederland, in the Regional Delegates Assembly.
The members of the Supervisory Committee are from different backgrounds and bring
different experience and skills to the table. This creates an effective system of checks and
balances, and provides the right balance between professional bankers and professionals
from other disciplines. Rabobank Nederland offers the local Supervisory Committee members
a programme of continuing education courses to increase their knowledge of the organisation,
maintain their professional outlook and allow the mutual exchange of ideas.
The local Supervisory Committee is held accountable for its supervision in a Member Council
meeting; in addition, a report of the Supervisory Committee is included in the local
Rabobank's annual report.
Clients can become involved in their local Rabobank by becoming a member. This gives them
influence and control over the future of their local Rabobank. The members represent the
clients. They are familiar with the members'and clients'wishes and considerations, and know
all about the local service area and (local) public opinion.
Each local Rabobank has a Member Council, which is meant to provide a firm and structural
footing for member control and member influence. A Member Council is a delegation of 30 to
50 members elected by the members from their ranks. As such it is a cross-section of the local
service area. The Management Team asks the Member Council to assess its policies in order to
tailor its service offering as much as possible. The Member Council influences and monitors the
direction of the local Rabobank and forms the link towards the bank's broad member base.
The Member Council typically adopts the financial statements and appoints the members of
the local Supervisory Committee. Member Councils also tend to be involved in selecting local
projects qualifying for cooperative dividend. Cooperative dividend comprises all investments
in, and expenditures on, improving the local economic, social and cultural environment,
including sustainability initiatives.
The General Meeting of a local Rabobank decides on major issues that impact the local bank's
continuity. The Member Council exercises all other powers.
Based on the law of Works Council, each local Rabobank has its own Works Council to discuss
representation issues affecting that particular bank. The Management Team is responsible for
calling in the local Works Council adequately and promptly, both formally and informally,
when the situation or developments within the bank so warrant. The rights of the local Works
Council include the right to be informed, the right to be consulted, the right of consent and
the right of initiative.
In order to achieve the best possible employee representation, the local Works Council consults
with the chairman of the Management Team during Consultative Meetings. The general state
of affairs should be discussed in a Consultative Meeting on at least two occasions every year.
The local Supervisory Committee or a delegation of this Committee is also represented in
these Meetings. The local Supervisory Committee is also present during Consultative
Meetings addressing important consultative issues, or a planned appointment or removal of
the chairman of the Management Team.
86 Annual Report 2012 Rabobank Group
