[Kay Ludlow]

One private party wants to extend credit to another private party. I just don't see the problem.

I wouldn't either, except the government doesn't seem to take a 'hands-off' approach to MY banking Have you tried to open a savings account lately? You need an amazing amount of evidence of who you are, where you live, how long you've been there, etc to get the bank to agree to hold your money. I'm into 3 1/2 weeks now getting a savings account set up with an out-of-town bank, as they keep asking for more and more documents and answers (and of course, they forget abut us for days at a time). I seem to recall needing a fair amount of documentation to set up my checking account too a couple years ago.

I fail to see how illegal aliens are getting bank accounts, which qualify them for credit cards, when it's so hard for citizens to get them any more.

[conservative cat]

I'm the primary breadwinner in our family- my husband stays home with the kids and works part-time for extra spending money. A couple of weeks ago we tried to cash his paycheck at the drive through of the local bank that issued it instead of depositing it at our credit union. They told us we had to come in, he had to show 2 pieces of picture ID (he only has one, by the way) and get fingerprinted- just to cash a paycheck!! We thought it was just the bank policy but now I am not too sure.

[ChildOfThe60s]

I fail to see how illegal aliens are getting bank accounts, which qualify them for credit cards, when it's so hard for citizens to get them any more.

Since it is happening, and in some areas a lot, it is no leap of logic to assume that the laws you and I are being subjected to are not being applied with the same vigor to illegals. How much is probably difficult to say, but far too much is for certain.

[GATOR NAVY]

I fail to see how illegal aliens are getting bank accounts, which qualify them for credit cards, when it's so hard for citizens to get them any more.

That's my question too, having recently opened a new checking account at the local branch of a large multi-state bank. SSNs, two photo IDs, address verifying, my non-citizen wife had to prove her legal residency status, and the bank rep assuring us this was all due to the Patriot Act.

So how are illegal aliens getting the checking accounts? Either they are committing fraud (no big deal for them) or BofA is bending requirements, or both.