ABN Amro

2025: Dismissal of a quarter of employees due to lack of money

On November 25, 2025, the Dutch bank ABN Amro announced a reorganization in which the number of personnel will be reduced by about a quarter. This measure is designed to improve the financial situation in conditions of lack of money.

As of the end of 2024, ABN Amro had about 22 thousand employees. By 2028, the credit institution intends to abolish 5.2 thousand jobs. It is expected that more than half of the reductions will occur due to natural staff turnover. The remainder of the staff will be laid off. In addition, ABN Amro Bank announced the sale of its subsidiary Alfam, which provides loans to individuals.

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Фото: Reuters

ABN Amro CEO Marguerite Berard said the credit institution aims to optimize its costs and improve profitability. The bank is targeting "sustainable and profitable growth" in Northwest Europe, she said. Reduced workers will receive cash compensation and other payments.

We will do everything possible to provide the necessary support to the dismissed employees. To do this, we have a reliable social plan that involves financial assistance and assistance in finding a new job, "Berar said.

According to her, many routine tasks can be transferred to systems based on artificial intelligence. That is why a large-scale reorganization will hit the bank's auxiliary functions the hardest. The number of positions in customer service, operations and anti-money laundering departments is expected to fall by about 35%. According to Berar, the remaining AI employees will be able to perform tasks more efficiently. At the same time, the bank does not intend to reduce its branch network in the Netherlands.^[1]

2020: Investing in fintech startup Penta

On July 7, 2020, Penta announced that it had raised more than €4 million in investments. RTP GlobalLeonid Boguslavsky and venture capital fund S7 Group - S7V took part in the deal among other investors. In addition, ABN Amro Ventures, VR-Ventures, HV Holtzbrinck Ventures, Presight Capital and others have invested in the project. Read more here.

2019: Investigation into banks' involvement in money laundering from Russia

On September 26, 2019, shares of ABN Amro bank collapsed by more than 10% due to the start of an investigation in Holland about the participation of banks in money laundering from Russia. Authorities suspect the bank has failed to properly vet its customers for several years and faces fines.

18th century: Business in the slave trade and slavery in plantations

ABN Amro Bank, one of the largest in the Netherlands, apologized in April 2022 for the slavery-related past. According to the report, which was commissioned by the bank itself, the slave trade played an important role in the history of ABN Amro.

The study focused on Hope & Co and Mees & Zoonen, the predecessors of ABN Amro, operating in the 18th century. Both were involved in the slave trade, plantation slavery, and the trade in products made by enslaved people.

So, Hope & Co was a major financial player and one of the most important elements of the slave economy of the Caribbean countries. According to experts, a third of all profits were received by the company as a result of activities related to slavery. In turn, Mees & Zoonen was an insurance broker for ships that, in particular, transported slaves. Insurance for slaves was issued not as people, but as goods.

The bank itself said it "sincerely regrets its historical involvement in slavery."

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