http://www.burbankleader.com/business/s ... 6495c.html

Bank program gets protests
Citizens for Securing our Borders claim Burbank Wells Fargo favors illegal immigrants for loans.
By Tracey Laity
(Published: February 14, 2006)
BURBANK -- Drivers sounded their horns and shouted their support as about 30 members of Citizens for Securing our Borders staged a protest Saturday outside a Wells Fargo branch on San Fernando Boulevard.

The protesters rallied against the bank's Celebrate Home program, a mortgage service which they believe favors illegal immigrants at the expense of U.S. citizens and legal immigrants, said Citizens for Securing our Borders organizer Robin Hvidston of Upland.

The Celebrate Home program, which was introduced in December, provides up to 90% financing on certain fixed and adjustable rate loans of up to $600,000 for the purchase of a single-family home or a condominium and accepts applications from Wells Fargo customers who have Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, said Jerry Ruiz, senior vice president of Wells Fargo Community Development in Los Angeles.

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is issued to individuals who do not have a Social Security number but do have an income and are required to pay taxes in the U.S., he said.

But Hvidston and her colleagues, who have staged similar protests at Wells Fargo branches in West Covina and Temecula, said the bank is encouraging illegal immigrants by also accepting matricula consular cards as a form of primary identification to open an account.

"We are middle-class, peaceful protesters and we are not here to cause trouble," Hvidston said. "We are not against legal immigration, we welcome legal immigrants to this country, but we feel the bank is aiding and abetting illegal immigrants by providing them with home loans."

Protester Chris Shaver, from Burbank, and four other Wells Fargo customers closed their accounts at the branch on Saturday to protest the bank's home loan and ID policies.

"I'm doing this because I don't believe in what they are doing," he said. "This is not the American way -- giving money away to illegal immigrants, and I wanted to take a stand."

Eileen Olson, a former Wells Fargo customer, said she had already shown her disapproval by withdrawing $28,500 worth of shares in the bank in October.

The bank was merely responding to demand in the market and improving its customer service, Ruiz said.

"Wells Fargo has a mission to address the financial needs of every segment of the communities we serve," he said. "Reaching everyone with our products and services is not only the right thing to do, it's good business. Providing loans under the parameters of the Celebrate Home program is within legal and regulatory guidelines. As a financial services company, Wells Fargo does not, and is not required to, question the immigration status of any of our customers."

* TRACEY LAITY covers the foothills. She may be reached at (81 637-3239or by e-mail at tracey.laitylatimes.com.