Business model and portrait
Raiffeisen's cooperative model is unique in the Swiss banking sector. It has allowed Raiffeisen and its now over 11,000 employees to grow successfully for over 120 years. Despite its age, the business model is as sound as ever and stands for stability. Raiffeisen connects people. Regional roots and customer proximity are the basis of our successful activities and allow us to create added value for clients, members, employees, the environment and society. As a cooperative, Raiffeisen holds traditional values that have once again become increasingly important in this fast-paced world.
How we create added value
Our business
Our vision
Raiffeisen – An innovative cooperative bank that connects people
Our strategy: six strategic objectives
1 We consistently align our services to customer needs.
2 We continue to drive evolution of our business model to become a solutions provider.
3 We standardise and digitalise our processes.
4 We differentiate ourselves as a sustainable cooperative.
5 We develop to become a learning organisation with great adaptability.
6 We actively use new technologies.
The foundations of our cooperative
We are the largest
cooperative bank
>2 million
cooperative members
We give everything
for our cooperative
11,465
Employees
We live sustainability
94 %
of fund volumes are
invested sustainably
We know our customers
42 %
of the Swiss population
are customers of ours
We are close to our customers
220
Raiffeisen banks have a presence
in 820 locations
We are rock solid
Up to 95%
of profit is retained
Our performance
Our cooperative remains strong
1.07 in CHF billion
Profit
19 in CHF billion
Equity capital
202 in CHF billion
Client deposits
206 in CHF billion
Loans to clients
We are successful
3.61 million Number of customers
23 % Neutral business as a percentage of operating income
56.0 % Cost-to-income ratio
>2 million Number of cooperative members
Number 35 in the Universum.com employer rankings
33.8 % Percentage of our retail customers who use Raiffeisen as their main bank
The added value from our cooperative customers
Customers
3.68 million
Advisory contacts between Raiffeisen
and customers
Cooperative members
105.6 CHF million
Member benefits passed on
Employees
16.8 CHF million
Investments in training and
continuing education
Society
217.1 CHF million
Donations, tax and sponsorship
Value creation
278,000 CHF
Net value creation per personnel unit
Environment
Over 30 %
Reduction in CO2 since 2012
Cooperative by conviction
True to its origins, Raiffeisen wants to provide easy access to banking services for everyone. We remain faithful to our cooperative values.
The first Raiffeisen bank in Switzerland was founded in Bichelsee (canton of Thurgau) in 1899 at the initiative of Pastor Johann Traber. The principle was: "Helping people to help themselves". All members should be able to use the services of their bank and have a right to say in how it is run, but at the same time they also share responsibility for the cooperative's activities and how it fares.
The Raiffeisen banks, organised as cooperatives, also demonstrate social commitment in clearly defined business areas. First, Raiffeisen supports local associations, social institutions and cultural events in a way no other banking group does. Second, the Raiffeisen banks are major taxpayers in the respective municipalities. Raiffeisen also performs an important task by being an attractive employer. As a company that always takes its staff into account, Raiffeisen sees meaningful activity, responsibility and initiative as the key elements of a socially responsible corporate policy.
Raiffeisen acts in line with its cooperative values and its business policy is open and fair. The focus is on the cooperative members. This will remain so in future. The members share responsibility for the development of their bank, which creates a high degree of customer proximity. Because the clients' money remains within the business area, the Raiffeisen banks make a direct contribution to the development of the region.
The cooperative values
Democracy
Joint ownership and participation – where every member has a vote – is the democratic essence of the cooperative. Decisions are reached democratically.
Solidarity
Mutual support and joint and several liability are, from a historical perspective, achievements of the cooperative movement. Ultimately, solidarity is based on mutual trust.
Liberality
We tackle tasks together, with self-motivation and self-reliance. Liberality emphasises the autonomy of the cooperative banks.
The entrepreneurial values
Credibility
We do what we say and keep our promises. We are credible in that our actions are reliable and consistent, and we reach transparent decisions.
Entrepreneurship
We take responsibility for our actions at all levels. We act independently, responsibly and entrepreneurially.
Sustainability
We take care to ensure the longevity of our business model. We strive for and maintain sustainable relationships with all stakeholders. We take responsibility in business and society.
Proximity
The Raiffeisen banks are rooted in the local population and know and understand their clients. They have a local/regional focus and integrate into the market.