Oakland city ID card will have debit function


kmph.com
The Associated Press
Updated: Dec 21, 2011 8:19 AM EST

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Oakland municipal identification cards designed to help illegal immigrants, transgender people and the urban poor will have a debit function.

The City Council voted Tuesday to authorize contracts with University National Bank of St. Paul, Minn., and SF Global Group of Venice in Los Angeles.

The debit card function is critical to covering the city costs. The cards are expected to cost holders $15 each and up to 30,000 cards are expected to be issued in the first year.

The city ID cards are designed primarily to give illegal immigrants a way to prove their identity. They also allow transgender people a way to prove who they are without a specified gender.

The debit feature gives those who don't have bank accounts a secure way to store their money.

Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com

http://www.kmph.com/story/16368747/o...debit-function