Bank of America remains invested in Delaware while listing its headcount in Delaware.
The statement came in response to a request for a statement on the company’s commitment to the state following news of a continuing expansion in the Baltimore area.
Bank of America maintains a sizable presence in the state and ranks as the second largest financial services employer.
Regional spokesman Trevor Koenig pointed to Bank of America ’s philanthropic efforts in Delaware.
“We are laser-focused on growing responsibly, and in a sustainable manner, which enables shared success with the community,” Koenig stated.
He cited the following:
- We donated more than $60,000 to the Food Bank of Delaware through our annual Give A Meal campaign, in partnership with Feeding America and its network of 200 food banks. This brings the six-year, program-to-date total for Food Bank of Delaware to more than $300,000, which includes the 2-to-1 matching by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.
- Our Neighborhood Builders program provides a local nonprofit with $200,000 in flexible funding and leadership development for the executive director and an emerging leader. Celebrating its 15th year in 2017, it is the nation’s largest philanthropic investment in nonprofit leadership development. The 2017 awardee in Delaware was Wilmington Renaissance Corporation.
- We donated nearly $3 million to Delaware nonprofits focused on economic mobility to support individuals, families, and communities in the areas of hunger, housing, workforce development and economic development. Organizations and initiatives we supported include Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, City Summer Youth Employment Program, Delaware Council on Economic Education, Delaware Technical & Community College, First State Community Loan Fund, Food Bank of Delaware, Friends of Rodney Square, Grand Opera House, Habitat for Humanity of NCC, Interfaith Community Housing, LACC, Ministry of Caring, NCALL, Pathways to Prosperity, United Way of Delaware, Wilmington Housing Partnership, YWCA, and many more.
- Earlier this month, we announced a grant to the Delaware Art Museum for the conservation of 13 works of art by prominent American artists, including the Wyeth family, Frank Schoonover and Edward Loper. The grant will enable the cleaning, repair and reframing of all 13 pieces and ensure they remain in Delaware, on view, for generations to come.
Koenig noted that the bank has nearly 6,700 people in Delaware who have volunteered more than 100,000 hours to support the community.
In the past, the financial services giant has been reluctant to release statewide employment numbers as it trimmed staff in various areas, including New England. Informal estimates of employment had remained in the 7,000 range for Delaware.
The bank has sharply downsized its presence in Wilmington and put much of the headquarters of predecessor credit card bank MBNA on the market.
Bank of America is relocating some operations to a new building in the popular Little Falls area west of Wilmington.
At the same time, however, Bank of America has bucked the trend toward closing branches and has added a small number of offices and ATMs in Delaware.
