AT&T Universal Card Services said Wednesday it has completed negotiations for a 262,000-square-foot building at the Salt Lake International Center where it will open a customer service center by early summer.
AT&T Universal said the facility west of the airport will initially employ 100 people. As many as 250 could be hired by the end of the year, said AT&T spokesman Bruce Reid, adding that most of those hired would be local.The company has been discussing the deal with Utah economic development officials for several months. The building at 5201 Amelia Earhart Dr. was purchased from American Stores for an undisclosed amount.
Reid said the company will take occupancy of the facility on April 15 and officially open the center two months later on June 15.
Fred Winkler, executive vice president of customer services for AT&T Universal, said the facility will serve as a backup to the company's Jacksonville operation.
"With its strong work ethic and Mountain Time Zone, Salt Lake City is an ideal location for our expansion," said Winkler.
"This site will allow us the flexibility to keep our competitive edge, servicing new products and customer accounts."
Those working at the center will provide service to holders of the AT&T Universal Card, a combined long-distance calling card and general purpose credit card that is accepted by MasterCard and Visa merchants.
The AT&T card was launched in March 1990. The company said it has since opened 10.4 million accounts and issued 16 million cards, making it the second largest in the nation.
Last spring, AT&T acquired Utah Financial Services, a small thrift and loan, renamed it AT&T Universal Financial Corp. and made it a subsidiary of the Universal Card division.