ABOUT 120 jobs are facing the axe at a leading Chester employer.

Credit card and finance operator MBNA has warned that about 160 jobs could go in its credit, customer assistance and marketing departments.

Bosses are planning to restructure the marketing division and recreate an additional 46 jobs, meaning about 120 employees at the company’s Bank of America headquarters on Chester Business Park could face the axe.

Consultations with the affected members of staff are already under way.

A spokesman for the US-owned company said: “We are no different to any other major employer in that we regularly review our business structures to make sure they are right for our customers and our business priorities.

“Following a detailed review of our operations, we have recently announced that we may see a reduction of around 160 full time equivalent positions largely in three areas of our business in Chester; credit, customer assistance and marketing; and we are currently consulting with associates in these three areas.

“We will be creating 46 new jobs as part of a restructured marketing division and will welcome applications from those associates who may be impacted by these changes.

“We remain committed to Chester and North West. We are one of the region’s largest employers with around 4,000 associates based at our UK headquarters in the city and we are continuing to recruit talent in many other areas of our business.”
County councillor Stuart Parker, assistant executive member for prosperity, said the news is a real blow for the town.