Assurances Sought Over MBNA Future

Wrexham Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, has written to the President of MBNA’s Europe Card Service, seeking assurances over the future of jobs as the bank looks to wind down its Chester-based operations.

The news comes after the Chester branch of MBNA, which employs a large number of people in the Wrexham area, announced that it is looking for potential buyers after owner Bank of America announced it was pulling the plug on its UK and Ireland credit card business.

The shock announcement last week left many of the 3,500-strong workforce at Chester Business Park fearful for their jobs.

In a letter to the MBNA Chief, Lesley Griffiths spelt out her concerns over a lack of clarity over the future of jobs at the site, noting that many of her constituents in Wrexham either worked at the Chester site or were related to or dependent upon those that do so.

The letter asks for clarification of the timetable for MBNA in its winding down of operations and assurances that MBNA would do everything in its power to ensure potential buyers could guarantee the future of jobs at their Chester centre of operations.

Lesley Griffiths said: “The future of jobs at the MBNA Chester Business Park site is a matter of great concern to many of my constituents in Wrexham.

“MBNA has the right to restructure its operations as it sees fit. However, I am concerned that the information coming from MBNA on these vital matters has been translucent at best and has not served to allay any fears over the future of jobs at the site.

“The Bank of America’s UK headquarters is in a prime location and great place to do business at the business park. I am confident there are a number of potential investors who will be interested in purchasing this as a going concern.

“Therefore, I believe it is not asking too much of MBNA/Bank of America that they take preservation of jobs into account as new buyers are considered to take over their Chester credit card operations.”

“Bank of America bosses have said they would prefer the Chester-based European card services to be sold as a ‘going concern’ with closure of the business a last resort.”

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