The new centre provides additional capacity to support the company's continuing growth and will deliver world-class contact centre services to its UK banking clients.

A global leader in electronic commerce and payment services, First Data International expects to create more than 430 financial services jobs at the Glasgow centre over the next five years. The first 70 positions will be filled by the end of Q1 2007.

At the official new centre opening on Cadogan Street in Glasgow, First Minister Jack McConnell said: "First Data International's commitment to Glasgow and this superb new facility are strong endorsements of the financial services industry in Scotland. Glasgow's International Financial Services District is providing high quality jobs and an excellent working environment for thousands of Scots and, with the investment by global companies such as First Data International, the pace of development within the IFSD shows no signs of slowing down."

With more than 60 primary offices operating in 39 countries, First Data International serves merchants and financial institutions around the world. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of payment services including electronic processing, ATM and POS management, switching and authorisation, fraud and risk management, customer management, contact centre services, card personalisation and print services. The new facility in Glasgow will deliver contact centre services, including card applications and activations, customer support and loyalty and fraud management programmes to support First Data's UK banking clients.

Simon Rubin, managing director of First Data International's operations in the UK, said: "We chose Glasgow for our new centre to give us the ability to recruit high calibre talent. The centre will begin operations on 28 February with a group of skilled employees who are fully committed to delivering a best-in-class service to our clients."

The financial services sector is regarded as onee of Scotland's key sectors, generating £7 billion (nearly 7%) of the Scottish GDP. It is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Scottish economy, having grown by 36.5% over the past five years - almost four times faster than the overall Scottish economy and twice as fast as the entire UK financial services industry.

Martin Togneri, chief executive of Scottish Development International, said: "Attracting investment in growth industries is an important strand of our initiative to promote economic growth in Scotland: the Smart, Successful Scotland strategy. The work of Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise Glasgow in helping convince First Data that Scotland is a market in which it can grow and develop, demonstrates our commitment to promoting Scotland as a place where multinational corporations can conduct business successfully. We have fostered a close and positive relationship with First Data, and we are pleased that Scotland is positioned to reap the rewards of these efforts."