Hamilton-based credit card issuer recognized for Greater Cincinnati location decision
One of the Top 10 credit card issuers in the U.S., Barclaycard has been growing rapidly in the past several years, and it needed to expand to support that growth. The expansion was spurred, in part, by an increase in its branded products and the number of partnerships in which Barclaycard provides co-branded credit cards, such as on behalf of Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue. After searching for more than a year and considering more than 1,000 sites, the company chose to locate in Greater Cincinnati.
On May 3, REDI Cincinnati recognized Barclaycard with a Growth Award. Based on feedback from a panel of local economic development practitioners, the company was named as one of four winners. Others Growth Award winners include ADVICS Manufacturing Ohio, Inc.; Aprecia Pharmaceuticals; and Robert Bosch Automotive Steering. These four projects were selected from more than 190 completed throughout the three-state, 15-county Greater Cincinnati region in 2015.
When Barclaycard company leaders came to Greater Cincinnati, they were impressed by the people living and working here.
“Market and talent were key drivers for us,” said Craig Peters chief operations and technology officer at Barclaycard US. “We were impressed by the work ethic and the people we met with. The community is hungry to support business – and we’re committed to reinvesting back in that community.”
Greater Cincinnati also offered Barclaycard geographic diversity from its other U.S. locations. Locating away from the coasts, where severe weather events are more likely, offers the company peace of mind that operations will remain running.
Barclaycard executives anticipate Greater Cincinnati employees will engage the company’s customer base in a unique way.
“The people we are hiring in Greater Cincinnati have a broad set of skills,” said Doug Villone, head of customer operations at Barclaycard US. “They are already contributing to a core part of our business. Barclaycard is committed to helping our employees build a strong career in our company, which in turn, creates a great experience for our customers.”
Barclaycard’s decision is expected to have a long-lasting impact on Hamilton.
“This project is a game changer for the City of Hamilton and the region,” said Jody Gunderson, director of economic development for the City of Hamilton. “Barclaycard will become the largest employer in the City once it is fully operational. In the short period of time that it has been in Hamilton, it has already demonstrated its commitment to our community. This customer contact center will be a perfect fit for the skilled workforce in our region.”
Barclaycard and its fellow winners were recognized during a ceremony at the Duke Energy Convention Center on May 3.