Speculation is growing Chester-based MBNA bank is up for sale with HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and Santander UK all reportedly interested in buying the £7bn credit card business.

MBNA has declined to comment however The Chronicle has spoken to staff who claim the bank is indeed up for sale.

Any potential consequences for the 2,000-strong workforce at Chester Business Park are unclear.

Sky News reports that aside from interest by the big banks, there are several private equity firms which have teamed up to make an offer in time for next week’s deadline.

MBNA is owned by Bank of America Merrill Lynch which also has its own separate base on the business park.

This is not the first time MBNA has been put up for sale.

The credit card business went to the market in 2011-12 but the sale was postponed.

Steve Broomhead , then chairman of Chester Renaissance , formed a task group of key decision-makers to work with the bank over the sale with a view to retaining as many jobs as possible here in Chester. Confirming the sale had later been put on hold, he said at the time: “The bank has confirmed the sale is postponed, I think because of market conditions.

“That doesn’t mean they won’t dispose of the credit card business at some time in the future. I think they’ve got an open approach to it.”

Virgin Money, which had a 50-50 joint venture with MBNA, was reported to be close to sealing a deal to buy part of the business at that time. And it was claimed Barclaycard had been interested in snapping up what was left of the portfolio.

Gorse Stacks House in George Street, Chester, is home of the Virgin Money credit card

Virgin later bought £1bn credit card assets from MBNA when it launched its own credit card business in 2015 after taking over Northern Rock building society.

The rival finance house initially hired office space in nearby Regus House on Chester Business Park but eventually moved into Gorse Stacks House, George Street, next to the block housing the NHS Fountains medical centre in the city centre.