£14m deal to create 250 bank jobs

Britain's biggest bank, HSBC, is creating 250 call centre jobs in Newport, south Wales.

The £14m deal will see the company more than double the workforce at its centre as it gears up to handle customer service calls.

The bank says it chose Newport because of the quality of staff and backing from the assembly government.

It comes less than a week after 600 jobs were axed at Ventura's call centre operation in Cardiff.

Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said the decision by HSBC demonstrated the Welsh call centre industry continued to thrive.

"The fact that HSBC chose to invest in Wales, rather than competing locations, is a tribute to the quality of the existing workforce and a significant boost to the local economy and to the Welsh financial services sector," he insisted.

"Assembly government officials have worked closely and effectively with HSBC to secure this significant development for Newport.

"This investment represents an important commitment to the area by HSBC, which already employs some 2,700 people in Wales."

The existing call centre in Newport handles the bank's home and motor insurance enquiries.

However, the company now wants the site to concentrate on its customer service operations, which will see it recruiting a further 250 staff at the site.

Unveiling the investment, HSBC's chief executive for Wales, Alan Jarman, added: "Our customers are increasingly choosing to bank online and over the phone, and our resources need to reflect this.

"HSBC chose to invest in Newport because of our skilled local workforce and our confidence that we can continue to recruit high quality people over the next two years and beyond.

"Furthermore, the Welsh Assembly Government has done all it can to support the development, and to make sure this investment was made in Wales rather than elsewhere."