<p>SAN ANTONIO, Texas – There is still no word about who is buying Clarke American Checks, but the pending sale of the check printing company isn't keeping it from expanding its call center network. Clarke American plans to open its newest contact center in San Antonio in July. The new center will supplement the one in the city that's already operational. That will bring Clarke American's call center network to seven facilities. The company says it plans to hire more than 200 new associates to staff the new call center by the end of the year. Clarke American employs more than 1,000 customer service representatives at its other six existing facilities. The new call center will provide 24/7 member service and sales by phone, Web site, email and Web chat. As for the status of the pending sale of Clarke American (CU times, March 27), the deadline for the second round of bidding is expected to be mid- to late May, according to My Deal. The likely sale price will be "$800 million and rising." There has been no word on the companies that have bid on the purchase, but they are likely to include printing companies and financial buyers. At press time, "eight bidders were talking to management, and presentations were under way."</p>