WILTON -- Credit-card giant Barclaycard US said Tuesday the company plans to expand its customer-care center in Wilton and will add 25 jobs by the first quarter of 2009.

Barclaycard, the credit-card business of Barclays PLC in the United States, opened its Wilton facility with 50 employees last June and now employs 70.

Company officials last summer, in launching Barclays L.L. Bean Visa card, pledged to expand the Wilton facility to another 150 workers within the next few years.

The latest plans call for Barclaycard to increase its footprint on the second floor at the Nichols-Bass Business & Technology Center at 128 Weld Road to 112 work stations, a news release from Gov. John Baldacci said.

The group will add more conference rooms and administrative space.

"Barclaycard is very pleased with the work force in Franklin County," said the director of the Wilton operation, Jen McEntee. "Our Maine colleagues have fantastic experience in various service industries, are quick learners and appreciate all that our company has to offer as an employer."

Employees provide customer support for card members who participate in the 64 co-branded, credit-card partnership programs offered by Barclaycard. Barclaycard also has a customer-care center in Wilmington, Del.

McEntee said since Barclaycard came to Wilton, it has provided organizational, financial and personnel support to local charities and community organizations.

Employees raised funds for the Franklin County Children's Taskforce, a group dedicated to family support and the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The company donated yards of fleece fabric to teachers at Academy Hill School in Wilton to make blankets for students.

As part of global Make a Difference Day activities this month, employees will visit Academy Hill to read books to classes about saving money and personal finance, books that were written and illustrated by Barclaycard US employees and published by the company.

For information on available positions, go to www.Join Barclays.com.