Posted on 02/14/2007 12:14:12 PM PST by Sub-Driver
GOP Lawmakers Peeved at New Bank of America Credit Card Program
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are lashing out at Bank of America Corp. over its new program to offer credit cards to customers without Social Security numbers, saying it creates a dangerous loophole for terrorists and illegal immigrants.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., called for a federal investigation of the program on Wednesday, sending Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff a letter requesting a review of the program.
"After September 11, we were told that money was the lifeblood of terrorists, and that we should do everything possible to block their access to financial resources," Tancredo said in a statement. "Today we are hearing a far different message: Bank of America, it's everywhere terrorists want to be."
The program welcomes applicants without a Social Security number and credit history if they have held a checking account with the bank for three months without an overdraft, The Wall Street Journal first reported in Tuesday editions.
Another Republican lawmaker criticized the program, saying it should be stopped to avoid security risks with illegal immigrant members of the program.
"If an individual wants to get a credit card, they can get that in their home country," Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told FOX News.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
"Since 1996 the IRS has issued more than 7.3 million ITINs, of which only two to three million have ever been used on a tax return."
"Let's make it happen."
And we WILL!
It's time we file a class action law suit against BOA, for unfair, discriminatory credit practices. We could win it. They are discriminating against Americans, and they could be in big trouble over it. It is illegal to demand SS numbers and credit reports from us, but not them. Don't you know how the fur would fly if BOA was only lending to married, white people over 40. Ha! All hell would break loose. The attorneys would be lined up out in the street at the court house waiting to file their lawsuits. The last I heard discrimination in America was against the law!!
I like yer thinkin' Lincoln!!!
That's why we're severing our ties with the Bank of America (now Bank of Mexico) as soon as possible.
And I've never been back.....This is just another confirmation, IMO.
They will have a bad debt problem on the books, but they will raise EVERY other fee to keep themselves in the black. Just watch.
I just told the teller at my local BOA that they're getting bad press."
I am hoping that more people tell their B of A that they are done with that bank, and are going elsewhere.
I had to show my ORIGINAL birth certificate and my original Soc Sec card to open my new bank account a couple of years ago. First time I ever had to do that.
On yesterday's FNC, Judge Andrew Napolitano explained that the BOA gambit is legal because when Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the wording for non-discriminatory banking practices referred to foreigners as "aliens," without specifying whether the aliens were in America legally or not. So, the law was intended, in part, to protect legal aliens in the States so they could get a bank account. But not forseeing the rush of illegals in the U.S., Congress did not specifically say that the foreigners had to be here legally.
Interesting that neither the House nor the Senate Banking committees have weighed in on this. They have jurisdiction and could stop this in a day. I'm not holding my breath. They are too busy making it easier for the banks and credit card companies to screw their customers.
well at least someone in washington is concerned about the well being of Americans, as compared to illegal aliens.
What suprises me is that B of A hasn't set the Mexicans coming here with their accounts already? They are an international company.
Yank their FDIC protection, there's no need for taxpayers to be subsidizing this lunacy.
Thanks for that perspective. It sounds like a pretty savvy move if I take the emotion out of it.
They financially supported a gay agenda program for kids where pornographic literature was displayed for anybody to pick up and peruse.
But don't banks need to check ID before opening up a bank account for someone in the U.S.? You know, Patriot Act, know-your-customer, etc.? Are non-resident aliens allowed to open up U.S. bank accounts without the required background checks?
BTW, if the customer went through the background check to open up the bank account, I don't see what the big deal is that they then get a credit card. But the customer needs to be checked out *at some point*.
BTTT
I believe it, that is the most money grubbing banking institution in the country. I dropped them recently for good. If I still have a relationship with them I'd end it now for sure.
I'm already funding Illegals' med. care and kids' education. I'm not going to fund thier banking.
The problem is not that we enable them somehow while they are here illegally, the problem is that they are here illegally. For a business to take advantage of the fact that their presence creates a market is to be expected, the solution is not to infringe on the business, but to enforce the law by working toward the day when this particular market is not present within our borders.
Thanks for the info
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