ABN Amro, one of the Netherlands’ leading banks, has announced a major workforce reduction as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen its core operations and enhance shareholder value. On Tuesday, the bank revealed plans to cut 5,200 full-time positions by 2028, representing more than 20% of its workforce. The decision will affect all business units, including recent acquisitions such as Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe and NIBC Bank, according to CEO Marguerite Bérard.
The announcement comes as part of a broader cost-cutting and efficiency plan, signaling ABN Amro’s commitment to streamline operations and optimize its portfolio. The bank also unveiled plans to divest its personal loan business, Alfam, to domestic peer Rabobank. While the sale is expected to result in a book loss of approximately 100 million euros, it will provide a positive impact of 5 basis points on the bank’s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio, a key measure of capital adequacy.
Shares of ABN Amro responded positively to the news, opening more than 4% higher ahead of the bank’s capital markets day, reflecting investor confidence in the strategic measures. Analysts highlight that the combined effect of workforce reductions, divestments, and asset optimization could position the bank more efficiently in a highly competitive European banking environment.
As part of its 2028 roadmap, ABN Amro has set ambitious targets, including achieving a return on equity of at least 12%, distributing up to 100% of generated capital to shareholders between 2026 and 2028, maintaining income above 10 billion euros, and sustaining a CET1 ratio above 13.75%. The plan also includes trimming risk-weighted assets in the corporate banking division by 10 billion euros over the next three years.
The Dutch lender, with a current market capitalization of roughly 16 billion euros, has benefited from strong earnings and favorable interest rates over recent years, positioning it among the top performers in the European banking sector. Rising consolidation trends in the eurozone have also fueled speculation about the bank’s potential as a takeover target, especially as the Dutch state gradually unwinds its remaining stake following nationalization during the 2008 financial crisis.
CEO Marguerite Bérard, who assumed her role in early 2025, addressed the speculation surrounding potential acquisitions, emphasizing that ABN Amro is focused on strengthening its operations independently. “We are building ABN Amro’s future on its own strength,” she stated, highlighting the bank’s intent to pursue growth through operational efficiency and strategic asset management rather than relying on external takeovers.
The workforce reduction and restructuring plan mark a significant milestone in ABN Amro’s transformation journey. By concentrating on core businesses and shedding non-strategic assets, the bank aims to reinforce profitability, capital efficiency, and long-term sustainability. Market observers anticipate that these measures, combined with a favorable interest rate environment and ongoing European banking consolidation, could strengthen ABN Amro’s competitive position and ensure long-term value creation for shareholders.
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