Bank of America Issues C/Cs to Illegals

[RedGlitter]

My friend sent this to me and this time I DID check it out on Snopes. (gotta remember to do that more often) I have an account with BOA but I may just close it.

I am sorry for all the >> things but I'm too lazy to remove them all.







This is a conversation you should be part of....

>

> A conversation between a Customer and Bank of America

>

>

> Bank: This is the Bank of America, can I help you?

>

> Customer: Yes, I want to cancel my account. I don't want to do

>Business with you any longer.

>

> Bank: Why?

>

> Customer: You're giving credit to illegal immigrants and I don't

>think it's right. I'm taking my business elsewhere.

>

> Bank: Well, Mr. Customer, we don't want to see you do that, but we

>can't stop you. I'll help you close the account. What is your account

>number?

>

> Customer: (gives account number)

>

> Bank: For security purposes and for your protection,can you please

>give me the last four digits of your social security number?

>

> Customer: No.

>

> Bank: Mr. Customer, I need to verify your information, but in order

>to help you, I'll need verification of who you are.

>

> Customer: Why should I give you my social security number? The

>reason I'm closing my account is that your bank is issuing credit cards to

>illegal immigrants who don't have social security numbers. You are

>targeting that audience and want their business. Let's say I'm an illegal

>immigrant and you've given me a credit card. I have a question about it and

>call for assistance. You wouldn't be asking me for a Social Security

>number, would you?

>

> Bank: No sir, I wouldn't.

>

> Customer: Why not?

>

> Bank: Because you would have pressed '2' to speak in Spanish. We

>don't ask for that information when calling in on the Spanish line.

>

>

>

> CHECK THIS OUT ON SNOPES!!!!! IT'S TRUE!!!!!!

>

>

>

> http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigrat ... merica.asp

>

>

>

[guppy]

i surely hope this is not true..i bank at boa too...and might be leaving there right soon....

[spot]

It happens with car insurance as well:Nationally, 15 percent of all motorists are believed to be uninsured, according to Insurance Research Council, but it isn't known what proportion of them are illegal immigrants. In inner cities, the percentage of uninsured individuals behind the wheel is believed to be substantially higher. The situation is another example of how illegal immigration and the purchasing power of the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants are influencing public and private policy in sometimes contradictory ways. While some politicians and others complain that illegal immigrants place a burden on state and local resources, businesses ranging from banks to retailers are lining up to cater to them. Earlier this year, for example, Bank of America Corp. began offering a credit card for people who lack a Social Security number and a credit history, a category that mainly includes undocumented immigrants. Smaller businesses have sprung up to help illegal immigrants file tax returns.

In tapping this new market, auto insurers are addressing a big concern for residents in many states: the potentially costly prospect of getting into an accident with an uninsured driver. Undocumented immigrants without insurance have been known to flee the scene of an accident, even abandoning their vehicles. They also sometimes plead with the other driver to let them pay for any damages in cash, to avoid being exposed as uninsured. In New Mexico, which passed legislation allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses in 2003, police say that the state's roads are now safer. Though critics say that insurance companies are legitimizing the presence of illegal immigrants by offering them insurance, some law-enforcement officials and immigrant advocates argue that many undocumented workers will drive to reach their jobs anyway, and that having insured motorists protects the public at large. Though driving without a valid license is illegal, it often goes unpunished if the driver's car registration and insurance papers are in order.

Associated Press Financial Wire, May 1, 2007The question of credit is the cover story on this month's Bank Technology News, too:Reaching the unbanked is one of those perennial dilemmas for banks, but several new technology tools recently have been unveiled that show great promise in helping to bridge this gap. And it is a gap worth bridging. The Center for Financial Services Innovation estimates 73 million people in the U.S. are either unbanked or underbanked. When one considers that that figure is 56 percent of the total banked population of 130 million, it becomes pretty clear how much business is up for grabs.

Several major lenders have announced forays into this market-particularly the Hispanic community, a growing entrepreneurial presence in many parts of the U.S. In February, Bank of America announced it was beginning to offer credit cards to people without Social Security numbers, but who have a checking account with the bank. The program includes more than 50 branches in Los Angeles County. JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Fifth Third also have experimented with programs to offer mortgages to undocumented immigrants by accepting government issued tax-identification numbers instead of Social Security numbers. (The Internal Revenue Service started issuing nine-digit ITINs to encourage foreigners without Social Security numbers to pay taxes.)So, it's not just credit cards, it's checking accounts and mortgages as well. And it's not just Bank of America.

[Sweet Tooth]

My hubby had an account there when we got married so we left it, but its not our primary bank- I KNEW I HATED THEM!!!! GRRRRR:mad:

[Patsy Warnick]

All banks are catering to the illegals - ALL BANKS

So big corporate America are bending requirements for illegals - its the financial world - all aspects - car insurance to mortgages

I'm irritated with the double standards.

Patsy

[spot]

Patsy Warnick;662840 wrote: All banks are catering to the illegals - ALL BANKSThe credit cards are the new and contentious thing Patsy. Check accounts are different beasts, nobody's been able to live without one for decades, they've always been available.

[Patsy Warnick]

Spot

My point was really addressing the comments on bailing from Bank of America, I don't think you can run from it.

Your not attacking me are you? perhaps I can be misunderstood

Patsy

[spot]

Patsy Warnick;663079 wrote: Spot

My point was really addressing the comments on bailing from Bank of America, I don't think you can run from it.

Your not attacking me are you? perhaps I can be misunderstood

Patsy


No, there's no attack. Here and in the health thread I've been agreeing with you, I thought.

The difference with the BOA here is that they're the only bank being discussed which has started to offer Credit Cards on these terms so far. Several banks have made checking accounts available without SSNs for years. Some companies have allowed valid car insurance to be taken and claimed without the claimant holding a valid driving licence. So no, I'm agreeing with you, picking on BOA seems slightly unfair unless a Credit Card is an entirely new scale of event compared to the other instances. I's wondered why people were treating it as though it was.

[RedGlitter]

It's the first I've heard about it...I'm amused because my local state bank refused me a checking account once as I had no proof of utility bills. They said I might be a terrorist.

[Accountable]

It's perfectly understandable that banks, or any other profit-making enterprise, would cater to any and every customer base including illegals. That doesn't make it right.



I wonder how successful a bank would be by advertising that they make every effort to ensure they do business with only citizens or legal aliens.

[guppy]

i happened to be in court a few months back and watch some cases before the one i was there for...an illegal alien was there because he had no drivers lisense or insurance and was caught..he got fined five hundred dollars....and was let go...i asked myself why? because he wasn't legal he couldnt really do anything with him? if he had reported him he would have been deported...so he was just fined an amount he could probably afford...and let go...where as if he had been legal i bet he would have gotten a stiffer punishment....even our justice system is skating by on this issue...

[Patsy Warnick]

Spot

Thanks - I had hoped we were agreeing?

Accountable

Good point - I wonder how many people aren't aware that this policy is in affect?

As RED said - this is the first she heard about it.

Another example is working with agency's like DES - (state assistance)

Americans have to show a birth certificate - social security card - and - and - and then your finger printed. And the lobby is full of NON - AMERICANS - with several children - so what ID could they possibly provide to be approved for assistance.

Yet, I / we don't qualify until our medical bills (out of pocket) reaches a certain amount. Our taxes pay for that - and what really gets me - they can't afford food etc. , but they have their - tatoo - piercing - cigarettes - cell phones etc. etc.

Don't get me wrong - this is not a catagory for all - its directed to the illegals we support.

Patsy