Bank of America?s announcement Monday that it would eliminate close to 2,000 jobs in three states will not affect the company?s Maryland employees ? at least for now.
The company told employees at three credit card call centers that the centers would close by year?s end. The call centers are located in Colorado Springs, Colo., Dover, Del., and Horsham, Pa.
“Operations in Maryland are unaffected by this announcement,” said Alex Liftman, a company spokeswoman. “Currently there are no discussions regarding plans to close operations in Maryland.”
However, Christopher M. Mutascio, an analyst with Credit Suisse First Boston, said it remains an open question as to what areas could eventually be affected, since the recent layoffs are part of the company?s plan to eliminate 6,000 positions across the country following its buyout of MBNA Corp. The company has said cuts were necessary because of overlap between Bank of America and MBNA credit card operations.
“If you look at what?s been done so far, it really hasn?t impacted Maryland,” Mutascio said. “Over the course of time, you could see job losses throughout MBNA?s footprint. Anytime you have a merger where you have duplicate back offices ? you know there are going to be cuts.”
Liftman said the 670 employees in Colorado will receive severance packages and outplacement services because there are no other Bank of America operations in the state. The 600 employees in Pennsylvania and the 630 employees in Dover will not be offered severance packages because they will have the opportunity to apply for company positions at the bank?s New Castle, Del., location, Liftman said.
The company also will also consolidate former MBNA facilities in Maine, Ohio and Delaware, but these consolidations will not affect employees.
Liftman said the company has no plans for further layoffs in the immediate future, but that additional cuts are possible, especially through attrition.
“We?ve made substantial progress in integrating Bank of America?s and MBNA operations,” she said of the eliminations. “As always, we will continue to evaluate the combined organization to ensure we?re operating under the most efficient model.”
Jobs already cut
» A former MBNA call center in Dover, Del., with 24 employees
» MBNA?s former home mortgage operation in Milford Crossroads, Del., with 128 employees, set to close in June
» Four call centers in Maine with 350 total employees
