Job fears for MBNA staff

Several hundred workers in the north-west are waiting to hear if their jobs are under threat after an announcement by Bank of America yesterday that it is exiting the international credit card business.

Around 750 people are employed at the bank's credit card business, MBNA, in Carrick-On-Shannon.

Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton has asked Bank of America to clarify its plans, and to outline the affect they will have on operations in Ireland.

The Minister has also asked the IDA to work closely with the company to help them find a buyer for the business as a going concern.

Speaking from the US, Bank of America spokesperson Jerry Dubrowski said the credit card sector was no longer part of the core sector of their business.

"The business is a strong business," Mr Dubrowski said.

"We announced our intention to exit the business because it is not core to our strategy.

"The customers that came to us for this service were strictly card customers. They had no other relationship with the bank and they don't fit into the core strategy that we are trying to emphasize to grow our business around the world."