MBNA to Close Call Center In Maine

MBNA, the credit card giant, will close its Rockland, ME call center by April, sending its 300 employees into early retirement, unemployment or jobs at the firm's other offices in the state, the Bangor Daily News reported.

The company said it would sell the 76,464-sq. ft. building it opened less than four years ago as well as its Point Lookout conference center and retreat in Northport. Neither has been listed for sale, and MBNA did not offer a price.

The MBNA facilities in Belfast, Portland, Presque Isle, Brunswick, Farmington, Orono and Fort Kent are not affected, according to the company.

Company spokesman Brian Dalphon cited efficiency for the scaling back. He said the 300 Rockland workers - as well as the 50 who work at Point Lookout - who choose not to stay with the company are being offered severance and early retirement packages.

The consolidation is primarily a result of the response the company received in January when it first offered employees voluntary early retirement or voluntary severance programs in an effort to align staff levels with its growth expectations, MBNA said.