The impending closure of a call center owned by a troubled telemarketing firm TeleSpectrum turned into an expansion opportunity for Midwest Card Services, which this week began operations at the facility in Milbank, SD.
TeleSpectrum, a major player in the telemarketing industry announced in November that it would begin reducing its 31 call centers as well as the work force at its remaining locations. Prior to the unspecified cuts, TeleSpectrum employed 9,000 people in the United States and the United Kingdom.
TeleSpectrum did not return calls requesting further information.
The company was the second-largest employer in Milbank, a town with 3,500 residents. Midwest Card Services retained all 120 employees, expanding its total work force to 270 employees.
Midwest Card Services partners with banks to provide and market credit cards to consumers. It also plans to provide outsourced telemarketing to telecommunications companies. Employees at the Milbank call center will perform both inbound and outbound telemarketing. They will work primarily to acquire new credit card customers for Midwest Card Services' bank partners.
Midwest Card Services owns two call centers in Brookings, SD, which is the location of its headquarters. One of the call centers performs both outbound and inbound telemarketing, while the other handles inbound customer service calls only. The company owns another inbound customer service call center in Arlington, TX.
