Washington Mutual has chosen San Antonio as the location for a new back-office operations center that will employ up to 4,200 people over the next seven years.

WaMu said in May it would open a center in Texas, a decision made easier by a $15 million cash grant from a fund created by Texas in 2003 to help attract jobs. Dallas-Fort Worth was also vying for the new operations center.

The Seattle-based thrift announced today the purchase of MCI's San Antonio campus, which has three buildings and 405,000 square feet of office space. MCI once employed 2,500 people there.

WaMu plans to expand on the 75-acre site to accommodate up to 4,200 employees.

Melissa Allison: 206-464-3312 or mallison@seattletimes.com