Top banker Rabobank anticipates lean years ahead

UTRECHT – Rabobank’s top banker Piet Moerland is cautiously optimistic that European leaders will reach a consensus on the euro currency crisis. He suggested that there is no quick fix but one that requires a steady effort on the road to recovery. He anticipates that economic growth in the Netherlands will hover just above the zero holding line. Moerland does not fear problems with his mortgage portfolio, the largest of all banks in the Netherlands. According to him, Dutch mortgage holders are very disciplined in looking after their obligations. Moerland also said that his bank tested its ability to deal with a range of scenarios in the event of a significant drop in the Dutch real estate market.