The local Rabobanks and Rabobank Nederland, which is also the holding company of the Group's subsidiaries and equity investments, are managed in accordance with the cooperative model. A unique element in Rabobank Group's governance is the Central Delegates Assembly, Rabobank Group's parliament, which meets four times a year and where member influence makes itself heard in virtually all of Rabobank Nederland's strategic decisions.
Embedding member influence and control and recruiting engaged members are core policy elements. In this way, the cooperative identity is emphasised by means of the control members can exercise through the member councils. Member councils consist of 30 to 50 members of a local Rabobank and are cross-sections of the member base of local Rabobanks. These councils increasingly function as committed sounding boards to members of boards of directors and/or management and Supervisory Boards.