Bank of "America": credit cards for illegal aliens

Bank of America is currently offering credit cards to residents of Los Angeles County who only have ITIN numbers and who don't have either a social security number or a credit history. That strongly implies that those credit recipients are illegal aliens. Later this year the bank hopes to expand the program nationwide.

For those who don't understand why this is horrifically bad, this bank is indirectly profiting from unlawful activity. And, they're explicitly going after that market. If you're one of those people who don't agree this is bad, imagine some form of illegal activity that you believe is bad for society. Then, imagine BofA going after that market.

And, the bank couldn't do this if they knew the government wasn't going to turn a blind eye to it. And, the bank no doubt donates to political candidates, and they will almost certainly only donate to politicians who will help the bank make more money.

Let's imagine that a few years from now BofA is making a handsome profit from this card. Then, some politician proposes forbidding banks from engaging in this practice. Do you think BofA is going to just let some politician cut off the money flow? Isn't it more likely that they're going to donate to those politicians who'll allow more illegal immigration and who'll support companies trying to profit from that indirect illegal activity? (A tangible example: when Tom Tancredo merely suggested taxing remittances, Western Union/First Data began publicly supporting - and funding - his Democratic opponent).

In summary, Bank of "America"'s actions rely on and will lead to political corruption. And, the bank would not do this if the Bush administration were not completely corrupt.

As for what you can do about this:
- Hopefully, BofA will eventually face both civil suits and criminal prosecutions for their scheme, and that might have a serious impact on their stock price. If you're a shareholder, express your concern. Even better, if you belong to a pension plan that invests in the bank, express your concern to the manager of the plan, and tell others to do the same.
- Watch for news reports and editorials concerning the card, and write letters to the ombudsman or editor, or leave comments.
- Contact your representatives and urge them to remove any loopholes that allow banks to engage in this activity or to investigate their activites.
- If you have any business with BofA, transfer it to some other bank; make sure they don't have a similar policy on ITIN numbers or Matricula Consular cards first.
- Stop supporting anyone linked to the Bush administration.

Related:
U.S. Treasurer wants Mexico to become even more reliant on remittances
Have Oklahoma banks admitted to aiding and abetting illegal immigration?
St. Peter Catholic Church, Jupiter Florida, supports illegal immigration
Arizona Republic almost does expose on Western Union
remesamex.gob.mx features Bank of "America", Wells Fargo, and Western Union
Profiting off illegal activity in Santa Ana, California
Georgia Sen. Sam Zamarripa involved with a bank
Bank of America was the title sponsor of the NCLR Annual Conference
Citibank "recruiting" illegal aliens for home loans
"Banks aim to help immigrants send money home"
Bank of "America"
Their money or your safety

UPDATE: An unconfirmed comment here says:

All of you Bank of America customers call the number on the back of your ATM cards and push ZERO to speak to a customer service representative. Then ask to fill out a voice of the customer form. The representative will enter your comments and it will get mailed to the quality assurance & customer satisfaction department. The bank takes these forms very seriously. Lodge your complaint and make your voice ring loud and proud to Bank of America President Ken Lewis.

UPDATE 2: According to this:

[Bank of America] executives said participants needed another form of identification, such as ID cards issued by foreign consulates.

In Mexico's case, that refers to the Matricula Consular card. In 2004, the Bush administration twisted arms to allow banks to accept that card as identification, despite both the FBI and the DHS admitting that the card was a security risk.

UPDATE 3: From this:

Bank of America wants all media inquiries about the credit cards for illegals program to be directed to Betsy Weinberger at 1-704-387-7376. This is your chance to be a John and Ken Assistant Producer for the day!

Comments

Bank of America is giving credit cards to illegal aliens with no credit history and no Social Security number. Close your account and join the boycott. Visit the site and learn about banks that are not doing business with illegal aliens. Don

I have to say, I have never in my entire life heard such small minded comments. Bank of America is the

I found out about this on Fox30 news, quickly called BoA here in Jacksonville, FL, & spoke to a manager on the #800 number. I've had my busines acct. & a credit card for years with them-until now! Finding out from this site about sending $$ back to Mexico free-WHY would Mexico inforce border rules-we're financing their country!!! What the hell is wrong with this country & the politicions who say they speak for me-they've NEVER asked me my opinion, because I'd give it to them & they truly don't want to hear me! I notified this manager I'd be closing my long standing acct. because of their ant-American policy, that their only interest is to make money off of these people regardless of how it jeapodizes America (selfish Liberal thinking to the max!); he filled out a written complaint & said MANY people have also called in with same sentiment. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY TAKING THE TIME TO TAKE OUR MONEY AWAY FROM THIS BANK & FILING COMPLAINTS!!!!
I want to know what banks Do Not offer this crap policy so I can open an account there.Does Southtrust? If another bank system is smart, they'll show their moral integrity & share with the nation that they DON'T have this policy-their customer base would climb through the roof!!

I am a former customer of BofA and so glad I left. The main reason I left was because every time I had a large check to deposit or cash, such as a mortgage refinance refund, they would hold it for almost 3 weeks! Now everyone knows in this day and age, funds can be verified within minutes, yet they wanted to hold on to my money so they could earn interest on it! The nerve! I'm now with Altura credit union and they hold checks for only 5 business days! Now that's reasonable. Another reason I left BofA is because every time I went in the branch, there was a line of cowboy-hat wearing Mexicans that looked fresh from the border. For the longest time, I could not understand why they were flocking to this bank. Then I found out that they get to send money to Mexico for free! FREE! This stupid bank is notorious for charging for a Kleenex, yet they let these criminals send money for FREE? In addition, most of the adds posted around the bank were written in Spanish and I had to search for the English translation. All the tellers were hispanic and spoke Spanish. I just felt like an outsider, so I left this bank that I had been with for 7 years. It actually wasn't that difficult and I'm glad I did it. I urge you to do the same! Close all accounts with these traitors!

I will be canceling my BofA accounts, all 3 within the week. This is disgraceful. But, what bank(s) are actually safe to go to? Obviously not wells fargo. There needs to be a list of "safe" banks, seriously, I think people would be interested.

I am also horribly disgusted with how our country is giving "Illegal" rights to live comfortable. In our country where my parents and so many others worked hard to become American Citizens. I'm 27yrs old son of a father from Dominican Republic and mother from Cuba. Bank of America like many other companies and even in our public stores have SOLD OUT. Our government and security can protect borders over in another country. We can't protect our borders in our backyard. What's the problem?? Do each citizen in this country have to locally get laws pass in order to do something in each small city or large city. Then again remember we are the Americans who work everyday to make a living and find a hard time to even sit on meeting when they schedule it during hours getting off work or on work. It's ashame we have allowed those who don't RESPECT our country avenues of living here FREE.

I am taking my money out of Bank of Amerika and won't do business with them, anymore. Supporting people that send their money home and don't pay taxes...HEY, BANK OF AMERIKA-PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS. Disgusting.

If you do not have a BofA account, walk in to your locl branch and ask to open a new account. Be very, annoyingly chatty, take up as much time of the account rep as you can then, when you get to the final signature, tear up the form in front of his face, tell him he works for a corporation that's selling out America, and walk out. Wastes his time, wastes others' time and makes clear to the company down to its marrow how much the American people disapprove of them whoring out our sovreignty.

We need to take a different approach. Balancing the federal budget and providing for the baby-boomers is going to be tough. I say we apportion shares of that burden to the companies and industries that are to blame for illegal immigration. I say that banking industry ought to be on the hook for an extra $50 billion for this credit card and maybe a couple of hundred billion overall for their complicity so far with mortgages for illegals and matricula consular cards. As the economists say, tax what you don't want. Let's start a party that will stop illegal immigration and balance the budget on those that are causing it.

So true, American Woman. Those who should be enforcing the laws, are not. Criminals from the most petty to the biggest, B of A, know this, and there is a lot of cash out there. Huge amounts of unreported cash and drug money to be laundered, and no repercussions. The corruption of mexico has moved in with us. The CEO's see no reason to be honest or loyal to this nation if they can make a buck. The police, the attorney generals, do nothing. Keeping the border wide open ensures that the flow of drugs, crime and illegals, never stops, so that the cash flow never stops. Those we have elected to protect us, are owned by the CEO's. They will never stop pandering their souls for cash, amnesty, and the total elimination of the border.

When I used to work for Wells Fargo, a person who was not a legal resident of the U.S. could not get a credit card. So why is B of A allowing this? As soon as the bill is run up and the card holder escapes to their country of origin or disappears, B of A will lose money. In turn, they will pass that cost onto their other customers. Not only is what they are doing illegal, it is morally wrong to pass the cost onto everyone else because of your greed. I do not bank with B of A and I'm glad. Shame on them.

Well to all those people that are talking bad about mexicans and how they are disgraceful that they are here. Let me remind you guys who picks up the fields every day for 12 or more hours, well mexicans right. So why the fuck are you complaining you guys are just a bunch of racist people. Mexicans are only here to work and give their families a better future. And dont give me none of that crap that they are here illegally because we all now that it happens because stupid US government is so xenophobic and does not allow many people from other countries to come here legally. Why are'nt we like the European Union who does not use this crap. We have alot to learn and being this way is not going to help.