BAY JOBS BONANZA; 200 new vacancies after firm's expansion.

Byline: Phillip Nifield Political and Business Editor

TWO hundred new jobs will be created in Cardiff over the next three years in an expansion by financial services giants, HBOS.

HBOS Card Services is taking a 15-year lease on offices at Alexandra House in Cardiff Bay, alongside premises it already occupies at Terra Nova House.

The firm currently employs 700 workers in the city, based at Cardiff Gate Business Park at Pontprennau and in the Bay. Neil Radley, head of HBOS Card Services, said that the additional space would allow the company to continue its growth, bringing up to 200 extra jobs over the next three years.

He said: ``We are pleased to be expanding in Cardiff.

``Since coming to the city we have worked hard to offer the best products and customer service in the industry and the people of Cardiff have really helped us deliver that.

``It is a tribute to them that, not only have we been phenomenally successful at winning new customers, but that we are now expanding in the city and offering more strong job opportun i t i es .''

HBOS was formed following the merger of the Bank of Scotland and the Halifax bank.

The announcement of the office deal was made by Associated British Ports Holdings plc (ABPH), general partner of the Cardiff Bay Partnership.

Phillip Williams, group property director at ABPH, said: ``We are delighted that HBOS plc has decided to extend its commitment to Cardiff Bay. This underlines the Bay's desirability as a prime office location.'' # The Cardiff Bay Partnership is a limited partnership in which ABPH has a 45 per cent stake and Morley Fund Management a 55 per cent stake. It was established in 2000.