SEATTLE, July 30 (UPI) -- Washington Mutual of Seattle, a major U.S. home lender, is closing its commercial-banking centers and ending loans to real-estate developers.
The closures will leave 850 people without jobs, but will not affect earnings, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
The move follows a July 22 announcement that the nation's largest thrift will close about 100 mortgage offices and lay off more than 1,800 workers in 17 states.
Washington Mutual also said it would close its mortgage loan-processing facility in San Antonio, dismissing 660 people. The company had about 57,000 employees as of June 30.
WaMu, as it is sometimes known, has 53 commercial-banking centers in 14 states. All the centers, which cater to medium and large businesses, will be closed by Oct. 29. WaMu said the business transacted there will be transferred, at least on a temporary basis, to 12 regional hubs.
The company said it would keep serving small businesses with $5 million or less in sales through its 1,800 retail-banking branches.
