N.C. county spurns BoA for offering credit to illegals
Posted on Friday, April 27 @ 17:09:16 EDT
Topic: Boycott Bank of America
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 GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) - Gaston County commissioners spurned Bank of America on Thursday and awarded a contract to Wachovia Corp. because Bank of America offers a credit card that can be used by illegal immigrants.
The deal, which will cost the county about $120,000 in interest over four years, was approved by the board - all Republicans - without discussion.
County officials said the cost would be offset by savings from trips to the bank, noting that the nearest Wachovia branch is closer to the county administration building than the nearest Bank of America branch.
"If we put a dollar value to staff time, there is not a difference," said County Manager Jan Winters.
The county would have an average daily balance of about $10 million.
April 27, 2007
The Times News
Topics: Bank of America Boycott, Wachovia Corp. Bank, Gaston County, NC, Illegal Aliens, Illegal Immigrants, Social Security Fraud, Matricula Cards, Citigroup Inc, Wells Fargo Bank,
Commissioners last fall directed county staff to cut programs and services that illegal immigrants could use.
Bank of America started a pilot program in the Los Angeles area late last year that didn't require a Social Security number to sign up for a credit card. The Charlotte-based bank insists the card isn't specifically designed to attract illegal immigrants, but acknowledges that could happen. The goal of the card is to introduce customers to banking and help build a credit history, bank officials said.
Citigroup Inc. has had a similar program for years and Wells Fargo & Co. officials have said they are considering such a card.
Wachovia, also based in Charlotte, does not have a similar credit card program. Wachovia, like Bank of America and other banks, accepts identification issued by Mexican consulates to customers who want to open an account but don't have Social Security numbers.
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