Bank of America aims new credit card at illegal immigrants

[Heracles 417]

So then you object to Bank of America's lax policy due to potential terrorism rather than because the policy "encourages" the presence of illegal immigrants?

Nothing to do with BOA. The US congress, senate, house etc are the ones who have to regulate stuff like this.. Rather than simply trying to win votes and make everybody happy, US politicians should think about doing something that is actually good for America and it's people. Otherwise this current attitude is seriously going to be the downfall of this nation.. Every other western and developed nation has adapted accordingly..

As I have said before, for such a progressive country the wheels of change turn so so slowly here..

Edited February 14, 2007 by Infidel

[rebeccajo 14]

BoA is free to do what BoA wants, and apparantly does...but I really do have a problem with being able to hold an American credit card if you have no ss#. Simple as that.

Do you have a problem with someone being able to get a mortgage if they have no Social Security number?

Edited February 14, 2007 by rebeccajo

[Heracles 417]

BoA is free to do what BoA wants, and apparantly does...but I really do have a problem with being able to hold an American credit card if you have no ss#. Simple as that.

Do you have a problem with someone being able to get a mortgage if they have no Social Security number?

Would you be angry with BOA if a terrorist used their new services to fund their activities, which resulted in the deaths of thousand of Americans.

PS Yes, because what right, even under international law, does an illegal immigrant have to poses property in a country they have illegally entered...

Edited February 14, 2007 by Infidel

[Henia 11]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp. has begun offering credit cards to customers without Social Security numbers, typically illegal immigrants, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

In recent years, banks across the country have been offering checking accounts and even mortgages to the nation's fast-growing ranks of undocumented immigrants, most of whom are Hispanic, the paper said, adding these immigrants generally have not been able to get major credit cards.

The new Bank of America card is open to people who lack both a Social Security number and a credit history, as long as they have held a checking account with the bank for three months without an overdraft, the Journal said.

Bank of America tested the program last year at five branches in Los Angeles, and last week expanded it to 51 branches in Los Angeles County, home to the largest concentration of illegal immigrants in the U.S., the Journal said.

The bank hopes to roll out the program nationally later this year, the paper said.

A Bank of America spokesman was not immediately available to comment.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews....=rss&rpc=22

I am sure ppl in Cali are loving this

[Caladan 19]

A Matter of National Security? How? I'm serious. Is al-Qaeda's money laundering scheme going to be foiled because now they don't have to provide a ss#? If we're going to cry terrorism, at least provide a plausible rationale.

The bank still requires postive proof of identification; it just doesn't require a social security number which is for social security, not identification purposes, in order to get a credit card. That probably helps prevent identity theft by reducing the need for a stolen number, if you're worried about illegals.

But in the larger situation, my social security number is for social security and taxes. It's an easy way to confirm my identity, but that's all its for, convenience. My university used to have students' ID numbers be their SSNs, but they stopped doing that for identity theft. T

[rebeccajo 14]

Why in the world would I be angry with a bank if somebody improperly used a service the bank offers?

I'd be angry if the bank FUNDED the terrorist act.

I just don't equate having to provide certain types of ID to obtain services as something proactive to preventing terror or stopping the flow of EWI's.

I see those types of things as 'big-brother-ish'.

[pedroh 21]

Why in the world would I be angry with a bank if somebody improperly used a service the bank offers?

I'd be angry if the bank FUNDED the terrorist act.

I just don't equate having to provide certain types of ID to obtain services as something proactive to preventing terror or stopping the flow of EWI's.

I see those types of things as 'big-brother-ish'.

OWNED

although true, you can't get a drivers license in some states without a SS# or proper visas and stuff, it's not just giving a credit card to anybody who walks in and asks for one.. besides, it's a credit card, not a bank account where u can save your money.. and I don't think BOA is gonna give'em 10k dollars as starting limit.. unless it's a charge card.. now collection agencies can charge u balances even if you don't have a SS#

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Not having a social security number doesn't mean one is illegal. The condition for being eligible to get a SSN is being work-authorized, not being legal. Ergo, not having an SSN means one is not work-authorized; it does not mean one is illegal.

There are visa classifications which are legal for residing in the US but are not employment authorized.

[Caladan 19]

Not having a social security number doesn't mean one is illegal. The condition for being eligible to get a SSN is being work-authorized, not being legal. Ergo, not having an SSN means one is not work-authorized; it does not mean one is illegal.

There are visa classifications which are legal for residing in the US but are not employment authorized.

Oh, shush now, you'll spoil the two minutes hate.

[Fandango 1,439]

BoA is free to do what BoA wants, and apparantly does...but I really do have a problem with being able to hold an American credit card if you have no ss#. Simple as that.

Do you have a problem with someone being able to get a mortgage if they have no Social Security number?

foreign investors buy property all the time, we both know that. And we both also know there's a bigger paper trail with any land purchase than with opening one of these CCs.

Having the only prerequisite being you need a bank acct for 3 mos only, which also only requires limited documentation to open up is hardly the same thing.

[PlatyPius 5]

Not having a social security number doesn't mean one is illegal. The condition for being eligible to get a SSN is being work-authorized, not being legal. Ergo, not having an SSN means one is not work-authorized; it does not mean one is illegal.

There are visa classifications which are legal for residing in the US but are not employment authorized.

If they're not "work-authorized", then why do they need a bank account or a credit card?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Not having a social security number doesn't mean one is illegal. The condition for being eligible to get a SSN is being work-authorized, not being legal. Ergo, not having an SSN means one is not work-authorized; it does not mean one is illegal.

There are visa classifications which are legal for residing in the US but are not employment authorized.

If they're not "work-authorized", then why do they need a bank account or a credit card?

So they don't have to put their money inside a mattress? You don't actually think all foreigners in this country make their money here, do you?

[pedroh 21]

Not having a social security number doesn't mean one is illegal. The condition for being eligible to get a SSN is being work-authorized, not being legal. Ergo, not having an SSN means one is not work-authorized; it does not mean one is illegal.

There are visa classifications which are legal for residing in the US but are not employment authorized.

If they're not "work-authorized", then why do they need a bank account or a credit card?

probly someone will pay for them...

Not having a social security number doesn't mean one is illegal. The condition for being eligible to get a SSN is being work-authorized, not being legal. Ergo, not having an SSN means one is not work-authorized; it does not mean one is illegal.

There are visa classifications which are legal for residing in the US but are not employment authorized.

If they're not "work-authorized", then why do they need a bank account or a credit card?

So they don't have to put their money inside a mattress? You don't actually think all foreigners in this country make their money here, do you?

LOL WTFPWNED

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

now that i've worked my way thru this entire thread, i'll sell my boa stock, as they'll probably discover the error of their ways when this house of cards comes crashing down due to massive amounts of unpaid credit card bills.

[rebeccajo 14]

BoA is free to do what BoA wants, and apparantly does...but I really do have a problem with being able to hold an American credit card if you have no ss#. Simple as that.

Do you have a problem with someone being able to get a mortgage if they have no Social Security number?

foreign investors buy property all the time, we both know that. And we both also know there's a bigger paper trail with any land purchase than with opening one of these CCs.

Having the only prerequisite being you need a bank acct for 3 mos only, which also only requires limited documentation to open up is hardly the same thing.

No it's not the same thing at all. There's a bigger paper trail because it is real estate. This is a credit card we are talking about. And I'm gonna reiterate over and over again that if the government wants to check out WHATEVER bits of data a bank has on someone, the Patriot Act gives them that right. I really don't think anybody need concern themselves too much about legal activity going unmonitored.

But philosophically I think they are very similar.

There's some assumptions being made here that no SS number and a limited credit history makes one 'illegal' or 'potentially dangerous' or 'uncreditworthy'. I think those are some pretty big assumptions to make based on just a couple of factors.

Would you not sell a house to a client if you found out they only had a TIN? Would you give up that potential commission based on that?

Edited February 14, 2007 by rebeccajo