16/08/2011

MBNA Jobs At Risk

There are fears of the future of hundreds of jobs at the MBNA credit card company in Ireland.

The firm's parent company, the Bank of America, has announced plans to exit its credit card business internationally including the UK and Ireland.

The announcement is part of the company's plans to focus on its core business and follows the sale of its credit card business in Canada and Spain.

MBNA, which has been operating in Ireland since March 1997, currently employs up to 1,000 people in Carrick-on-Shannon in Co. Leitrim.

Commenting on the decision, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton confirmed that he had been in contact with Bank of America officials. He said: "I have been in contact with representatives of Bank of America to discuss their decision to exit their credit card business in the UK and Ireland and its implications for their Carrick-on-Shannon facility. I have also spoken to the IDA and asked them to work closely with the company with a view to assisting them in finding a buyer for the business as a going concern."

The Minister confirmed that the IDA will now market the business through its Global Network, which to date has had a number of successes in finding buyers in a number of sectors throughout the country.

(KMcA/GK)

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