Contents Management report Corporate governance Consolidated financial statements Financial statements Pillar 3
All local Rabobanks in the Netherlands made substantial
investments in their fields of operation this way in 2015.
This resulted in new alliances and innovative projects. In order
to increase the impact of these initiatives and to raise their
profile, we have assigned three themes to these local activities:
sustainability, economic vitality and liveability.The online
platform Rabo Versterkt shows these social initiatives on
an interactive map of the Netherlands. At the end of 2015, the
registered total of social initiatives of our local Rabobanks was
over 1,700.The examples shown (many in the form of short
videos) relate to themes such as sustainability, economics,
housing, healthcare and sponsorship. The website details how
we contribute to the local community and to the Netherlands
as a whole.
Rabobank pays special attention to a number of customer
groups: youth, seniors and starters.
Youth
Research by the Dutch National Institute for Family Finance
Information, Nibud, seems to show that education at a young
age in the area of finances can help prevent financial problems
at a later age. That is why Rabobank helps youth to manage
money responsibly. Each year, we organise the 'Week van het
Geld' ('Money Week') together with other banks and the Dutch
Association of Banks.The week is intended to motivate children
to save and handle money responsibly.This includes the 'Bank
voor de klas' ('Bank in the classroom') lesson week for 9-12
year-old primary school pupil, during which bank employees
act as guest mentors. Furthermore, the bank sponsors
educational events and creates opportunities for young people
to make their way in society. All this takes place in dialogue with
young people themselves. (Look at examples here.)
Seniors
Sometimes seniors need help to continue with new forms of
banking, via mobile and internet. Rabobank assists them in this.
(See also 'Banking together'on page 66.) Examples can be
found on our corporate website.
Starters
An innovative idea can drive the economy or boost the
creation of new jobs. That is why Rabobank supports new
entrepreneurs with knowledge, funds and networks. We also
regularly find inspiration in the refreshing plans entrepreneurs
have for the future ofthe banking industry. The Netherlands has
a lot of so-called incubators, collected in 'knowledge clusters'
around knowledge institutions such as universities, colleges
and research centres. An incubator serves as an accelerator
for talent in the world of innovative entrepreneurs. Starting
businesses can get access to work space, services, networks
and capital. If you stimulate your knowledge clusters, then
you stimulate your economic growth. Rabobank wants to
be a leader in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Incubators and knowledge clusters also fit perfectly in the
cooperative philosophy.That is why we are involved in various
of these initiatives, such as FHolland Fintech, the bierman Wijffels
Innovation Award and The Next Entrepreneur.
Sponsoring
One ofthe ways in which Rabobank takes responsibility for
creating a more vital society, is via its sponsorship policy.
The three main sports we support are hockey, equestrian sports
and cycling, ranging from amateurs to world champions. At the
end of 2015, Rabobank announced that from 2017 it will be
shifting its focus towards local sports sponsoring in order to get
even closerto our customers. This shift means that the expiring
contracts with the KNWU (Royal Netherlands Cycling Union),
KNHS (the Dutch equestrian federation), the Rabo Development
Team and the RaboLiv ladies team will not be renewed.
Rabobank is Partner in Sport ofthe NOC*NSF (Netherlands
Olympic Committee Netherlands Sports Federation). We are
also an official '1% FairShare®' partner; this is a programme
whereby businesses are asked to invest 1 in addition to
their total sports sponsorship budget into disabled sports.
In addition, we support the Jeugdsportfonds (Youth Sports
Fund), which helps children from poorer families to join
a sports club.
In 2015, a total of almost EUR 40 (46) million went
into sponsoring.
O Read more about the subject here.
Support for new cooperatives
Due to our own cooperative background, we consider it
our duty to let people participate in society independently
and with dignity. We support new cooperatives by means of
financial services, knowledge and networks. Local and regional
cooperative initiatives can therefore contact Rabobank for:
knowledge (for example industry knowledge for the SME or
the public sector, or advice about establishing a cooperative);
57 Corporate social responsibility report
