[Hildy]

Do you ever get the sense it's just too late for this Country? Maybe the great experiment didn't take into account how stupid and lazy we'd all get and how much we'd take what we have for granted.

[Centurion2000]

Last week, Bank of America announced a program to issue credit cards to Spanish-speaking immigrants who may not have Social Security numbers at 51 branches in Los Angeles County. Other major banks, including Wells Fargo and Citibank, have launched similar initiatives.

So then if I attempt to get an account without a SS number and I am refused. Doesn't that constitute national origin based discrimination?

[Rakkasan1]

Critics have denounced such efforts to integrate illegal immigrants into the banking and credit world as aid to criminals, but Sigo organizers worry such offers by traditional banks will take advantage of low-income immigrants.

so they want their free cake and eat it, too?at least they finally managed to use the "illegal" word in the story.

[Calpernia]

ping

[Calpernia]

ping

[Calpernia]

ping

[ctdonath2]

Nobody should need a SSN for any purpose other than the federal retirement plan. My SSN isn't the bank's problem, so they shouldn't demand it. Thanks for the reminder. I gotta go get one of those BOA SSN-free cards before whiners make 'em stop.

[flyingbear]

FWIW, I work at BofA and while I don't agree with the practice, this card pilot does not specifically target illegal immigrants. The Bank created this pilot in LA to "help current Bank of America customers who have deposits with the Bank and little or no credit history." This card has a credit limit of $500 and carries a fee of $99. One cannot get this card with out an existing deposit account. Opening a deposit account requires identification as required by the USA Patriot Act. Specifically, the Bank requires customers have 2 forms of ID, including an unexpired government issued US or foreign government-issued ID card.

[B.O. Plenty]

BoA: money talks...bullshiite walks...

no matter the cost to the rest of us.

I realize that a lot of people are stockholders and account holders in BoA....but, I am not, never will be after this. BoA just dropped from my radar screen.

It would make this old heart flutter to think that witholding my business from BoA would topple the whole rotten mess, but alas...it ain't true, and will never be true. We can only hope and pray that many people would pull out of doing any kind of business with BoA, and leave them to the basement dealings with illegals.

May the gods of the copybook smite them mightly, and bring a once proud financial institution back to its senses.

[JimRed]

Just for kicks, I think I'll go down and try to open a new account without any social security number. When they ask me why, I'll mention the need to hide money. When they refuse me, I can sue for racial discrimination (white non-Hispanic European male).

Oh, and I'll demand the paperwork in English!

[RockinRight]

Without a bank account doing something about illegal immigration to America, "somebody can steal it," said the 20-year-old criminal, who came to the U.S. from Mexico illegally three years ago. "That's it, your money country is gone."

[newcthem]

Too bad this poor fellow doesn't become an American Citizen.........then he wouldn't have to worry about someone stealing his money..........the US Government would do it........mostly to finance all the G-d D-mn Mexican CRIMINALS in this country.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

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