Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A. (2025)

Rabobank was one of the first banks to subscribe to the Equator Principles (EP), after the EP were launched in 2003.

For those financial products that fall within the scope of the EP, we ask clients not only to comply with our sustainability policies (Sustainability-policies-briefing-Rabobank-Group.pdf), but also to bring into focus and to address relevant environmental and social risks according to the associated standards
outlined in the EP. Within Rabobank the commercial business lines and the central Sustainability Department are responsible for the correct implementation of the EP. As part of our client sustainability assessment, we assess all transactions in scope of the EP against the requirements as outlined in the EP, whereby the relevant social, environmental and governance risks are reviewed. When clients apply for a new transaction, we complete a checklist to ensure the correct application of the EP. The assessment concludes in an ESG-categorization of the project which is subject to approval by the relevant internal credit authorities. The terminology used to categorize the projects is based on the International Finance Corporation’s categorization process, which classifies projects into high, medium, and low (environmental and social) risk (Category A, B and C respectively).

When a potential high risk project (Category A) is identified, an independent internal sustainability assessment will be provided. The relevant risks are assessed, to the extent required, mitigation measures are applied, and additional requirements for monitoring, reporting and mitigation are set.