Bank of Ireland said today that an all-Ireland telephone and Internet banking centre to be set up in Newry Co Down will create 300 jobs.
Announcing the centre at a news conference in Newry, Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Sir Reg Empey said it was a major boost for Northern Ireland's financial services sector.
Mr Empey said the project was an important vote of confidence in Newry's potential as an IT centre: "The investment will enhance Northern Ireland's reputation as a location for telephone and call centre investment and as a centre of excellence for innovative ecommerce services."
Bank of Ireland governor Mr Laurence Crowley said the decision to locate the centre in the North was influenced by "our perception of an economy which is gaining strength".
Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister and Newry MP Mr Séamus Mallon said the announcement was "excellent news".
He said it was "a clear endorsement of the town's skills base and business potential, located as it is on the Dublin-to-Belfast economic corridor".
PA