A total of EUR 45.5 million was donated to social sponsorship in 2014 (2013: EUR 45.2 million).
You can read more about this subject here.
Community
in millions of euros
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
Rabobank Nederland, Communications
15.2
12.5
30.3
25.1
24.1
Rabobank International and other Group entities
7.3
7.8
11.0
9.7
11.8
Local Rabobanks
23.0
24.9
27.4
27.0
24.1
Total community sponsorship
45.5
45.2
68.7
61.8
60.0
Social investment
Impact investing is a form of investment whereby we aim for both financial returns and social
returns. Rabobank has embraced this investment method and explored opportunities in 2014
to start offering these types of investment products to retail customers and private banking
customers.
We are already offering products to our institutional customers which generate both financial
returns and public benefits, such as Dutch Greentech Fund, Rabo Farm, Rabo Rural Fund and
Rabo Inclusive Business Fund. Rabo Farm launched its second European fund in 2014 and also
launched Shift Invest last year. The bulk of Shift Invest's future investments will focus on health
and prosperity.
It is our ambition to adjust our processes so as to be more aware of socially responsible
investments in which we can make the most impact.This way, this form of investment can grow
at a pace we feel is appropriate in 2015, where the customer and society both stand to benefit.
Public debate
Rabobank actively engages in discussion with social welfare organisations; these discussions
tend to focus on the standpoints taken by the bank. The bank may decide to meet with these
organisations because of an event or specific developments covered by the media. The bank
receives regular questions and feedback about investigations relating to bank policies. We also
hold meetings at regular intervals with some of these organisations. Included in the appendix
of this report is a list of topics of debate with societal stakeholders and the outcome of this.
A number of significant sustainability issues were addressed during the meetings in 2014,
related to the production and trade supply chains for palm oil, soy, livestock farming, meat
production and energy.
Rabobank will redefine its policy in terms of these issues and will be more transparent in
communicating about their content and implementation.
Rabobank's specialists follow political meetings and debates closely. They liaise with politicians
and civil servants in The Hague and Brussels, as well as with financial regulators. The bank
participated in the round tables hosted by the Fower House of the Dutch Parliament on big
data and sustainable, diverse and service-oriented banking. At a European level, we provided
input for the establishment of the Banking Union. We also joined forces with LTO Nederland
(Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture) and the Dutch government to advocate
compensation for horticulturists for the losses they suffered as a result of the Russian trade
sanctions. Rabobank is also well-represented in international trade missions, economic missions
and state visits, to which it regularly sends delegates. Rabobank representatives joined King
Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima on state visits to Poland and Japan. We accompanied
Annual Report 2014 Rabobank Group
