Wells Fargo plans to close 20 subprime lending offices in Maryland over the next two months, but many of the employees would be reassigned rather than laid off, according to company officials.

The company is shuttering its 638 Wells Fargo Financial storefronts nationwide, eliminating 2,800 jobs, because it's getting out of the subprime mortgage business. The locations, often in poorer areas, also provide customers with higher-interest credit cards and auto loans.

The company announced the closures Wednesday and that it would probably cut 1,000 more Wells Fargo Financial positions within a year.

The stores typically employ five or six people. Dozens of employees in Maryland are expected to be affected, but Wells Fargo officials could not say Thursday how many work at stores in the state.

"Many of these team members will be assigned to positions in our community banks and to positions in our home mortgage business and will be able to continue their careers with Wells Fargo," said spokesman Alanson Van Fleet.

Those reassignments will be local, he said.

Workers who are laid off will get 60 days of notice, a severance package based on their tenure and outplacement assistance, the company said.

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