TN Rep. Calls For Bank Of America Investigation

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6099822

Feb 16, 2007 02:32 PM

Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn has called for an investigation after Bank of America announced it will begin issuing credit cards to people without identification.

The Bank of America pilot program offers credit cards to undocumented immigrants without a social security number. In the program, applicants don't need any id to get a credit card.

"Banks should not seek the flood of illegal immigrants as a new market, nor should they have to enforce our immigration laws. This is bad financial policy in the wake of bad immigration policy," Blackburn said in a statement sent to NewsChannel 5.

Rep. Blackburn sits on the House Financial Services committee. She said financial institutions should not be able to issue credit cards to people who have entered the United States illegally.

Bank of America has defended the program, saying it has nothing to do with immigration status and everything to do with helping people establish credit.

There have been reports of people across the country who said they're no longer banking at the Bank of America because they disagree with the new policy.

The pilot program is running in 51 branches across the U.S.