Fears for the future of 650 staff at credit card company MBNA have been allayed after its owner, Bank of America, managed to sell part of the business as a going concern.

COMMUNITY leaders have demanded to know whether there is a deliberate strategy to reduce the workforce at the MBNA credit card facility in Carrick-on- Shannon before it is sold.

There is speculation Barclay's Bank could be interested in buying MBNA.

There are fears for around 750 jobs at MBNA in Carrick On Shannon after the firm's parent company Bank of America announced it was exiting the international credit card business.