RABOBANK
Rabobank is generating positive social change in the agri-food and energy sectors by doubling down on its commitment to innovation
Rewind for a moment , if you will , to 1898 – you ’ ll find that the world is a very different place . The US president is William McKinley ; in England , Queen Victoria is into the last few years of her reign ; and in the Netherlands , her third cousin , Wilhelmina , is embarking on what would eventually become a near-60-year spell on the throne . Meanwhile , in the Netherlands that same year , two Dutch banking cooperatives were inaugurated that would go on to form the backbone of one of the world ’ s largest financial institutions – one that , this year , is celebrating its 125th anniversary . Raiffeisen-Bank was founded in Utrecht and Boerenleenbank was founded in Eindhoven , originally acting as banking cooperatives to serve local farming communities .
Nearly 75 years later , the two would merge , taking the first two letters of their respective names to create a brand that is still familiar to this day : Rabobank .
When Bart Leurs , Rabobank ’ s current Chief Innovation and Technology Officer , dials in from his home office to talk about the company ’ s innovation strategy , there ’ s a small parallel with the bank ’ s agri-heritage : he is speaking from Utrecht , where he lives with his family – and where Raiffeisen-Bank began its journey exactly 125 years ago .
Leurs is a seasoned banking executive who joined Rabobank in 2016 , first serving as Head of FinTech & Innovation before four years as Chief Digital Transformation Officer . He has held his current role since September 2021 . Prior to that , he spent almost two decades at ING , where he spent two years as Head of Strategy for ING Direct , followed by a number of senior positions within the company in Canada , Germany , and Belgium .
According to Leurs , that experience overseas has given him a deeper appreciation for the financial challenges in existence around the world , as well as an understanding of Rabobank ’ s reputation abroad .
“ It really broadens your perspective of the world ,” he tells FinTech Magazine . “ It has really enriched my work and my life , in general , and given me new inspiration thanks to the different cultures and the different ways that people look at life .”
June 2023 | fintechmagazine . com 85