February. 25, 2009

Barclays to add up to 500 jobs in Delaware

Financial services company will open new facility in Newark

WILMINGTON – Governor Jack Markell announced Wednesday that Barclaycard US, the credit card business of Barclays PLC in the United States, will be creating hundreds of new jobs in Delaware over the next five years.

Barclaycard will be opening a new customer contact center in Newark to support its growing payment card operations.  The opening of the new facility, which will be operational in early April, will initially create 300 new jobs and could add as many as 500.

“We are not going to solve the historic challenges facing us unless we create jobs. It is absolutely critical we get Delawareans back to work,” Markell said. “Barclaycard looked at many options nationally but opted to stay close to home. That is a testament to Delaware’s talented workforce.  Today’s announcement is a welcomed bit of good news in this tough economy. My administration remains focused on creating an economic climate where Barclays and other companies across a range of industries can thrive.”

Markell specifically thanked former Lt. Gov. John Carney for his effort with Barclays over the past few months to make Wednesday’s announcement possible. Carney spent a significant amount of time and energy helping Barclays decide to locate the facility in Newark and planning for the expansion.

“This announcement would not be possible without John Carney’s hard work,” Markell said. “I am immensely grateful to John for sitting down with Barclays and helping to create hundreds of jobs that Delawareans desperately need. I asked John to work with Barclays because I knew his expertise and businesses acumen would play a major role in making Barclays’ proposal a reality. We need much more of this kind of teamwork and cooperation if we are going to take our state in a new direction toward a brighter future.”

 The new customer contact center will be located at 700 Frontage Rd. in the Iron Hill Corporate Center. Barclaycard maintains customer contact centers in Wilmington and Wilton, Maine that will remain fully operational. 

 “We’re thrilled to become a part of the corporate community in Newark, Delaware,” said Lloyd M. Wirshba, Chief Executive Officer, Barclaycard US.  “Barclaycard in the U.S. has more than doubled its portfolio since early 2007 and we are now one of the 10 largest bankcard issuers in the nation.  The new center will help us to better serve our cardholders and our card partners.”

 Barclays is currently looking to fill various customer service positions at the Newark facility.  For more information on available positions and employment opportunities, please visit www.JoinBarclays.com.  The company will host a job fare at the Newark center, open to the public, March 26 from 10 am to 3 pm.  Details about the job fare will be released at a later date.

 “It is gratifying to once again see an existing Delaware company reaffirm its loyalty to the state by choosing to expand here,” said Alan Levin, director of the Delaware Economic Development Office.  “Barclays’ addition of 300 jobs further fortifies Delaware’s financial services industry and brings the company’s total impact on our economy to an expected $67.5 million.”

 In Newark, Barclaycard will have access to a skilled work force with experience in the financial services industry, said Joe Purzycki, Chief Operating Officer, Barclaycard US.  “Newark is an ideal fit for Barclaycard because of its proximity to the headquarters of our business in Wilmington and to high quality educational institutions that provide a great source of employment candidates and education programs.”