Washington Mutual announces layoffs

VERNON HILLS - Washington Mutual confirmed Friday it intends to lay off an additional 50 area workers in Vernon Hills and Downers Grove home loan support centers, according to WaMu spokesman Shane Winn. The Seattle-based savings and loan said the cuts are part of a nationwide reduction of 1,200 jobs, including 30 jobs in Vernon Hills and 20 jobs in Downers Grove. But WaMu will still have 1,700 employees in the Chicago-area market. The cuts are the latest in a series of cuts to both home loan and retail operations. Washington Mutual has 117 area branches, down from its 2003 peak of 170. Earlier this year Washington Mutual said it is closing its free-standing home loan offices and it posted a $1.1 billion first quarter loss.