University Centre Shrewsbury banking and finance students went behind the scenes at one of the largest credit card providers in the UK to find out more about the running of a successful financial institution.

Visiting Lecturer Chris Hampshire from the University of Chester took five students from the BSc Banking and Finance course to spend a day at MBNA’s office in Chester.

MBNA Ltd has been based in the UK since 1993, and in 2006 became part of Bank of America, one of the largest financial institutions in the world. The company has more than two-and-a-half million cardholders and has been Moneyfacts Credit Card Provider of the Year for three years running.

The visit to MBNA in February included a tour of the extensive inter-linked buildings to see the working environment of the different operational business units and included presentations of the various aspects of running a large, well-established credit card business.

Student Jonathan Breakell said:

“It was nice to see a working environment where staff were well appreciated by the company. From an outsider’s perspective, it was good to see how MBNA worked from the inside, out, and the many ways in which they achieve what they do.”

Chris added:

“All the students found the visit was extremely useful as it helped them better understand the financial services market and the increased regulatory controls that financial services companies now have to operate within.”

For more information on University Centre Shrewsbury, including the BSc Banking and Finance course, go to www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk, email enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk or call 01743 297185.

Further information

Background

1.       The University of Chester was established in 1839 and is one of the oldest Higher Education Institutions in the country with around 16,800 students. University Centre Shrewsbury is a partnership between the University of Chester and Shropshire Council. Postgraduates were welcomed to the institution in autumn 2014 and the first undergraduates started courses in autumn 2015.

2.       For further information on MBNA go to www.mbna.co.uk.