The chairman of the Netherlands’ second largest bank, Rabobank, likes to be different. He is also proud of his bank’s unique characteristics. True to the bank’s roots as a rural co-operative, Bert Heemskerk is keen to discuss Rabobank’s positioning not only as a universal bank in the Netherlands, but also as “the leading global food and agri bank”. He also notes the bank’s prestigious AAA rating and the flexibility gained by not being a listed company and being able to take a long-term perspective.
While the Netherlands still accounts for 74% of the bank’s activities and domestic retail 51%, Rabobank’s distinct “food and agri” flavour can best be seen its international strategy and recent acquisitions. Rabobank is active in 37 countries with 300 branches but, unlike other banks, its country and retail focus is targeted at attractive agricultural sectors where it believes it can add real value.
