Level playing field for women

Opening eyes to unconscious biases

More and more people - women as well as men - are acknowledging the importance of female emancipation. Yet true equality is not as straightforward as it may seem. Much of the problem lies in the way we in the financial sector look at the world: through a male perspective. In other words, we don’t know any better. Or rather, we didn’t know any better. By observing closely, questioning each other critically and not taking anything for granted, we open each other's eyes to unconscious biases. Only then can we break old habits together.

Ready for action

We have been fighting for equal opportunities for women for many years. Both in word and deed. For example, we joined the Financial Alliance for Women and in 2019 signed the United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles. In doing so, we not only endorse the importance of a global movement but also promise to make a valuable contribution to it. We focus on three groups: female colleagues, female customers and women in society. We are also using our social function and commercial influence to get other companies on board. From customers to suppliers and partners, we expect them all to actively increase opportunities for women.

For all women in the bank...

We regularly investigate whether men and women at ABN AMRO receive equal remuneration. This shows that they earn identical salaries within the same salary scale. Even so, there is still inequality, in that there are more men in higher salary scales and more women in lower ones. We want to change that. By 2025, we want to see 35% of director and sub-director posts held by women. And we’re aiming for 45% in the layer below Executive Board level. We’re also working on more female-friendly recruitment in all parts of the organisation. For example, through gender-sensitive job ads - which generate more responses from women - and job interviews conducted by a man and a woman together.

...with the bank...

In our long history as a bank, we have viewed our products, services, information, risks and opportunities primarily from a male perspective. In the financial sector, for example, women are 30% less likely to receive adequate credit. Whereas 40% of total assets worldwide are in female hands. And 40% of entrepreneurs worldwide are women. We want to understand all our female customers better so that we can offer them customised services and products. They may for example be missing out on opportunities because we aren’t offering them the right facilities. That is why we’re increasingly focusing on providing the best possible service to women by tailoring our products and services more closely to their wishes and needs. This translates into new products and services as well as different forms of advice, processes, marketing and communication.

... and outside the bank

We’re also working hard to promote equal opportunities for women outside the bank. For example, we’re using our social function and commercial influence to get other companies on board. From customers to suppliers and partners, we expect all of them to actively increase opportunities for women. That is why these principles are firmly anchored in our partnership contracts. We also exert our influence in sports sponsorship, through our support for the Ajax women's football team and some 50 field hockey clubs throughout the Netherlands. After all, 'fair play' is a high priority in hockey, yet women hockey players don’t get the same opportunities as men.