A company’s actions speak louder than its words. At RBC, corporate responsibility can be seen in how we operate our business, contribute to economic prosperity, and support communities and causes. Our report is structured to reflect these areas of focus.

 
   
 
Integrity in Business
RBC has implemented a wide range of policies and practices to ensure we operate with integrity. Some of these represent sound “first principles” for any business, such as our attention to governance, privacy, diversity and being an employer of choice. Others are specific to our role as a financial institution, such as how we manage risk, provide basic banking services, and respect environmental issues in our lending practices, daily operations and management. 		Contribution to Economic Prosperity
If the communities and countries in which we operate are to achieve a high standard of living, they must be economically sustainable. At RBC, we make an economic impact by creating employment and a well-trained workforce, paying our share of taxes, and purchasing goods and services responsibly. As a financial services company, we also contribute to economic prosperity by providing access to credit for small business, supporting community economic development initiatives, innovation and entrepreneurship. 		Support for Community Causes
RBC believes in building prosperity by supporting a broad range of causes. In 2004, we contributed more than $59 million to community causes worldwide, through corporate donations of more than $39 million, and an additional $20 million in the support and sponsorship of community events and national organizations. Our employees and pensioners also make an enormous contribution as volunteers, sharing their financial and business knowledge, time and enthusiasm with thousands of community groups.

 

  
     
 

Corporate Responsibility Firsts
RBC’s long history of corporate responsibility contains many significant “firsts.” In fact, RBC takes corporate responsibility so seriously that in 1980, we embedded it in our first formal employee Code of Conduct. Today, it is one of our Code’s eight “guiding principles”: “It is our duty as a corporate citizen to add value to society while earning a profit for our shareholders. RBC companies take responsibility for the effects of their actions, both social and economic.” Here are some highlights from our other “firsts.”