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UP TO A THOUSAND people in Ireland could be made redundant by the decision of Bank of America to drop its international credit card businesses.
Bank of America said today it had sold its Canadian credit card business for $8.6 billion, and was planning to sell its operations elsewhere in the world.
If a buyer cannot be found for its business here – the popular credit card offerer MBNA – it will likely have to shed its entire Irish workforce of around a thousand.
The majority of those staff are based in the facility in Carrick-on-Shannon. The jobs are not under immediate threat for the time being.
This evening jobs minister Richard Bruton said he had been in touch with officials from Bank of America to discuss the future of its UK and Ireland operations, and to safeguard the future of the Carrick-on-Shannon plant.
Bruton has also contacted the IDA asking it to help find a buyer for the business.
Bank of America’s decision to drop its international credit card businesses comes as part of a decision to focus on its core business operations in the United States.
The bank has seen its share price plummet in the last ten days, as one of the biggest victims of the last fortnight’s market slump.
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Unfortunate about the jobs but good riddance to MBNA. Any place is better off without them and their dodgy practices.
If a 1,000 jobs go in Carrick on Shannon , the impact in the locality would be devastating.
So does that mean I dont have to pay my bill now….yaaaaaay
What a terrible effect that would have on Carrick,I hope they find a buyer.
Yea I am surprised they waited so long, horrible company to deal with it. A few I know there say they can’t wait to get out of it, they are delighted it’s gone belly up.
Used to work for MBNA (I needed a job don’t judge me) and this rumour was going around in 2008
Unfortunately Dawna even if they find a company to take over their business here that won’t prevent the job losses.. Whoever takes it over will just have their existing workforce provide the customer service to the old mbna customers :-(. Very sad news indeed
Sorry for those losing their jobs, but Mbna are the worst company I have ever came across. Not sorry to see that brand going
well at least theres those 70 mcdonalds jobs, im lovin it :(
First it was ghost estates, now Leitrim might have a ghost town, this will destroy Carrick on Shannon.
Ever since BOA bought out MBNA, rumours of this have been going around, someone will have to take over these credit cards, the only question is who and what part of India the call centre will be in.
have your say