ABN AMRO is one of the largest banks in the Netherlands, serving retail, private, and commercial banking clients. It is also active internationally in private banking and a number of global specialist activities. Along with a comprehensive range of products and services, ABN AMRO offers in-depth financial expertise, extensive knowledge of numerous sectors, and an international network supporting their customers' domestic and international operations.

ABN AMRO responds to the ever-changing market and, in doing so, to its customers' ever-changing needs. In this context, the Bank's Learning & Development department plays a crucial role in providing the employees with top-class training and education. The training is developed in a way that enables employees to become more agile and respond more quickly and appropriately to changes in the customers' needs. ABN AMRO's approximately 25,000 employees cannot only respond to volatile financial markets, but also to increasing employability and internal mobility.

In 2010 the learning departments of Fortis Bank Nederland and the ABN AMRO (Academy) merged into ABN AMRO "Learning & Development" - a centralized, business-oriented, and performance-focused learning department. ABN AMRO L&D works in business-related teams and offers business-specific solutions as well as solutions like management skills, compliance, and languages.

The Learning & Development department also supports organizational learning, bank-wide change and culture programs, leadership programs, and programs for specific audiences. In cooperation with Recruitment and Management Development, the L&D specialists designed and supported the award-winning "ABN AMRO Traineeship".

The L&D Team manages performance issues, strategic learning plans, and ad hoc changes or questions. The team uses the Saba Unified Learning Management Suite to determine the appropriate learning solution for the specific performance gaps. The team can then tender for or choose the appropriate eLearning training.

The total L&D department consists of 24 full-time employees. Within the HR department, the L&D manager reports to the manager of the new "Centre of Expertise People" (COE), in charge of recruitment and employability, management development/talent management, and leadership development. The complete HRD chain is brought together in the COE, thereby creating opportunities to integrate the complete HRD/ talent management chain. The LMS is hosted by trusted partner Bloomville.

The Saba self-service concept is really catching on in ABN AMRO. In the near future it will be critical to present the learning offer in such a manner that employees can easily find the right learning solution for their needs. All this managed via the LMS, and if required, supported by online, interactive learning advice modules.


ABN AMRO also wants to focus more on collaborative and mobile learning to ensure that employees can access learning via computer, tablets, and smart phones.