Chase closing BR processing center; 247 jobs lost
by TED GRIGGS - Advocate (excerpt)

Chase is closing a national processing center in Baton Rouge, a move that will eliminate 247 account maintenance jobs downtown, the company announced Thursday.

For the past few years, Chase has been consolidating back-office operations into its larger centers in an effort to increase efficiency, spokesman Greg Hassell said. The larger centers, which have more than 1,000 employees, offer better operating efficiencies and lower costs.

“The unfortunate reality is this means job losses in Baton Rouge,” Hassell said. Most of the account maintenance jobs will be shifted to centers in San Antonio; Columbus, Ohio; and Houston, Hassell said. The processing center’s workers were notified of the company’s plans Thursday.