Senator Casey Urges BB&T to Help Laid-Off Workers

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Senior US Senator Bob Casey wrote a letter to BB&T CEO urging him to support the workers King laid off.--photo via Mark Pynes / Patriot News.
The BB&T branch building on Paoli Road in West Goshen.
The BB&T branch building on Paoli Road in West Goshen.

Concern over the 241 employees laid off from National Penn Bancshares by BB&T Corp., prompted U.S. Senator Robert Casey to pen a heartfelt letter urging the bank to help those who have lost their jobs in any way possible, writes Jeff Blumenthal for Philadelphia Business Journal.

The cuts, that represent 14 percent of that National Penn’s total workforce, came after the $1.8 billion acquisition of the bank by BB&T completed last month. The majority of the 87 layoffs in Allentown and the 154 in Boyertown are employees working in back office positions including finance, marketing, and information technology.

Senator Casey said in his letter to BB&T CEO Kelly King, that a number of his constituents have expressed concerns both about their own livelihoods and the impact the merger may have on their communities.

“I write today to urge you to do all that you can to ensure that affected individuals and communities in Pennsylvania have information regarding the acquisition and merger, and to ask that you give your full consideration to any options that will support the affected workers and preserve National Penn’s current headquarters,” wrote Casey.

Casey expressed interest in BB&T’s plans to assist the affected employees. Specifically, if the company is actively working to provide laid-off employees with other positions in the bank and ensuring they receive preferential treatment as new jobs become available.

A BB&T spokesman stated that the bank is attempting to place the affected employees into other positions within the company and that those employees who stay through their 60-day notice period will get severance benefits as well as career transition services.

Read more about the letter at Philadelphia Business Journal here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of BB&T here.

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