250 JOBS in Carrick-on-Shannon have been saved by the takeover of part of the MBNA Ireland credit card business.

The facility, which employed 650, had been set for closure when its parent company, Bank of America Europe Card Services, indicated plans to leave the UK and Ireland market last August.

It has this lunchtime been confirmed, however, that Bank of America has sold part of the business to a fund owned by Apollo Global Management.

The takeover will secure the future of some of the jobs at the plant. Another 400 employees who were not effected by last year’s announcement have been assured their jobs will remain as part of the UK business.

Jobs minister Richard Bruton welcomed the news, saying the Department of Jobs and the IDA had both been heavily involved in trying to bring security to the jobs, and that he himself had met Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan on two occasions to discuss the plant.

“When I travelled to Carrick shortly after the announcement I pledged that Government would do everything possible in an effort to secure these jobs,” he said.

“Today’s announcement secures the 250 jobs employed in the Irish operation, and provides good news for the 400 people employed on the UK business.

“I will continue to ensure that everything possible is done to secure all jobs in the Carrick-on-Shannon operation for the long-term.”

The terms of the takeover deal have not been disclosed.