You are on: Approach
Vision and Values
The RBC vision and values are the 'what’ and 'how’ of our business strategy. Together, they serve as a compass for our sustainability journey.
Learn more about our vision and values.
Our Pledges and Priorities
At RBC, we focus on six distinct areas. Our commitments in these six areas make up our overall community and sustainability strategy.
Vibrant Communities
- Provide a broad base of support to support a wide range of community and social causes
- Provide deep support for our major initiatives
- Encourage and enable employees and retirees to contribute
- Measure and communicate the social and environmental impacts of our donations
Sustainable Environment
- Reduce our environmental footprint
- Manage environmental and social risk
- Offer environmentally responsible products and services
- Promote environmental sustainability
Prosperous Economy
- Deliver top quartile Total Shareholder Returns over the medium term
- Foster economic growth by supporting infrastructure development projects
- Promote community economic development
- Support small business
- Foster innovation and entrepreneurship
- Create employment
- Purchase goods and services responsibly
Thriving Marketplace
- Provide access to basic banking through a range of channels
- Develop and provide financial products responsibly, including those that have a positive social or environmental impact
- Promote financial literacy among clients and the general public
- Respect clients' privacy, safeguard their information and help to protect them from fraud
- Listen and respond to clients
Rewarding Workplace
- Maintain progressive workplace programs and practices
- Respect diversity and promote inclusion
- Provide competitive compensation and total rewards, and enable growth through training
and development
- Foster a culture of employee engagement
Corporate Integrity
- Govern responsibly
- Manage risk effectively
- Uphold principles, policies and procedures that promote integrity and ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements
Learn about our performance in these six areas.
You are on: Stakeholders
The People and Groups Who Are Affected by RBC
We touch many lives and there are lots of opinions on what we should do to be a responsible corporate citizen. We take great care to listen to those opinions so we are better able to make a positive difference.
Our stakeholders include:
- Clients
- Employees
- Current and prospective investors
- Socially responsible investments (SRI) community
- Suppliers
- Governments
- Environmental NGOs
- Regulators
- Community partners
You are on: Hot Issues
Stakeholder Dialogue
Our clients, shareholders, employees and other stakeholders aren't shy about sharing their opinions with us or calling us out if they don't agree with how RBC approaches the issues that matter to them. So we try not to shy away from having conversations about some of the tough issues, such as those shown here.
Corporate Integrity
Can banks ever be trusted again?
Public sentiment toward the banking sector has deteriorated as a result of worldwide financial difficulties and scandals. Governments have responded with ever-increasing regulations. In this environment, financial institutions face a host of new challenges in adapting to changes and regaining the trust of consumers. Canadian banks have fared better than banks in many other countries, but we know we must continually work to earn the trust of our stakeholders. Over the years, we have built a foundation of trust, which we strive to maintain by behaving with integrity in everything we do.
Economic Impact
Banks aren't doing anything to create economic value.
We support economic development by providing loans, advice, information and services to our clients, and support small business, entrepreneurship, innovation and social programs. For example, in 2012, we committed $20 million to RBC's social finance initiative, purchased $5.9 billion in goods and services and incurred $3.1 billion in taxes.
Marketplace
Financial matters are so complicated nowadays. It's no wonder so many people are in debt.
We help promote financial literacy through our own initiatives and by supporting not-for-profit organizations that provide financial education. We aim to lend money responsibly by providing credit to clients who are able to manage their debt comfortably.
How can I be sure it's safe to bank online?
As the use of online and mobile banking grows, so does the risk of fraud and scams. Banks must take responsibility for protecting their clients' information from unauthorized access or use. We have stringent privacy practices and use a range of technologies and security mechanisms to ensure the safety, confidentiality and integrity of client information and transactions. We employ advanced technology and security procedures to help protect against unauthorized transactions and access to user data.1
1For a definition of an unauthorized transaction and for full details regarding the protections and limitations of the RBC Online Banking Security Guarantee, see the Electronic Access Agreement. This guarantee is given by Royal Bank of CanadaTM in connection with its Online Banking service.
Workplace
What are you doing to promote diversity?
We have made some important strides in the past few years in the area of diversity. Women make up 47 per cent, and visible minorities 30 per cent, of middle management positions or above. Diversity is a key ingredient for winning new business, attracting great talent, strengthening our communities and creating a workplace where everyone belongs and thrives.
Environment
Banks should just stop doing business with customers who harm the environment.
Financial services companies must carefully balance environmental concerns, society's needs and economic opportunity by providing credit responsibly to all sectors. We have a very clear role in ensuring that our lending and investment banking activities are subject to appropriate environmental and social due diligence. RBC has a suite of environmental and social risk management policies that apply to our financing activities; we regularly update these policies to address scientific findings, regulatory changes, emerging and evolving issues, and international best practices.
Community
You made record profits in 2012. How are you giving back to communities?
RBC is consistently recognized as one of Canada's leading corporate citizens, thanks to our community and environmental programs and the involvement of our 80,000 employees worldwide. To help strengthen the social fabric of the communities in which we live and work, we support a broad range of causes in virtually all charitable sectors, and provide deep, focused support to key causes that that reflect our company's chosen priorities. In 2012, we made over 9,000 donations, totalling more than $61 million, to charities worldwide.
Our Approach
Banks have a significant impact on people, communities and countries. Our first priority is doing our jobs as bankers well, and serving our clients with integrity, every day. At RBC, we also take our responsibilities in the community, marketplace, workplace and to the planet seriously. 
