The US Maryland National Bank is believed to have shortlisted three locations for a European headquarters for its credit card business. Chester, Cardiff and Dublin are each being examined as possible sites for the bank’s 300,000-sq ft requirement.
Colliers Stewart Newiss, which is advising on the property requirement, said it could not confirm the shortlist, but said that the bank was looking only at sites that were “incentivised”.
Maryland National Bank has already been linked to Grosvenor Waterside’s Capital Waterside scheme in Cardiff Bay. It is also thought to be considering Chester Business Park (which is in the hands of the receiver following the collapse of Warringtons), and Irish Life’s George’s Quay, where a range of financial incentives are on offer.
Chester is tipped as the preferred location. Barbara Mothershaw, head of economic development at Chester City Council, confirmed that discussions had taken place with the bank, but refused to comment further.
