Bank of America credit card issued regardless of immigration status

[Quicksilver]

U.S. banks including Wells Fargo & Co. are giving checking accounts and mortgages to immigrants based on their tax identification numbers, which are granted by the Internal Revenue Service to people who either don't have or aren't eligible for a Social Security number.

They're issued regardless of immigration status because non-residents may owe taxes, meaning those who enter the country illegally can obtain them as well.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...itcards14.html

[Wagner]

Quick, on the immigration tip lately?

I'm not shocked at all, it is a capitalist society and Wells Fargo is 'playing by the rules'. If the government made it illegal for someone without a SSN to get the card, this would be cleared up.

The interesting part is, this must be done for a legitimate reason. I would like to know why there was a policy in place to give out accounts based on tax id.

[Quicksilver]

You said it bro. " it is a capitalist society and Wells Fargo is 'playing by the rules' It's all about the money not morality. It would be interesting to see the legal brief that put in place a policy to give out accounts based on tax id."

Originally Posted by WagnerX5

Quick, on the immigration tip lately?

I'm not shocked at all, it is a capitalist society and Wells Fargo is 'playing by the rules'. If the government made it illegal for someone without a SSN to get the card, this would be cleared up.

The interesting part is, this must be done for a legitimate reason. I would like to know why there was a policy in place to give out accounts based on tax id.

[Juanted]

Old news.

And it's not just Wells Fargo. WaMu and BofA do it also.

[JV]

There's an upside to this: no more long lines at the Bank of America cause those illegals won't have to go to the issuing bank to cash their checks anymore! They can do direct deposit.

[noncom23]

So we pay for it in intrest when the immi's
don't pay the money back?

[Eric5273]

[Quicksilver]

Not old news. The article says " Bank of America Corp., the second-biggest U.S. bank, has begun offering credit cards to customers who lack a U.S. Social Security number or credit history, opening the business to immigrants who may be in the country illegally.

And yes the article did say that other banks would be doing the same.

Originally Posted by Kaefer

Old news.

And it's not just Wells Fargo. WaMu and BofA do it also.

[Trouties]

When I called B of A the system said for existing accounts it would take 5 to 15 minutes to get through because of the weather. When I pushed the line for new credit cards I got through immedialty. I mentioned how interesting it was to have to wait with an account but to apply the phone was picked up immedialy even though the weather was causing problems! And to top it off I was asked for english to press line #1. I told B of A that an american citizen should never be requested to push any line for english. That should only be asked of people who do not speak english!

[Juanted]

Barry,

I can tell you that when my wife worked as a Mortgage Banker for BofA some 7 or 8 years ago, they were already giving home loans to customers without an SSN or credit history. Ditto for her current company (Wells Fargo), and the company for which she worked in between those two (WaMu). I know because in many cases, I served as her translator.

Juan

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Not old news. The article says " Bank of America Corp., the second-biggest U.S. bank, has begun offering credit cards to customers who lack a U.S. Social Security number or credit history, opening the business to immigrants who may be in the country illegally.

And yes the article did say that other banks would be doing the same.