County board unhappy illegal immigrants can obtain credit from BofA
A controversial credit card program has led Gaston County leaders to reject Bank of America as the county’s bank.
Gaston commissioners on Thursday declined to award a four-year contract for banking services to the Charlotte bank — a decision that could cost the county about $120,000.
Commissioners are shunning the bank because it offers a credit card that doesn’t require a Social Security number to obtain and could be used by illegal immigrants.
The new card, which is being tested in Los Angeles, complies with U.S. laws and, according to the bank, is intended to introduce customers to banking and help build a credit history.
Bank of America officials have said that more than 80 percent of customers in the program have Social Security numbers, but officials acknowledge it could be used by illegal immigrants.
That aspect alarmed Gaston commissioners, who didn’t want to support a company that supports illegal immigrants, said Mickey Price, the board’s chairman and a pharmacy supervisor for CVS.”Nobody, to my knowledge, wants to go with them,” he said.
The decision comes after Gaston commissioners in November directed county officials to cut funding for programs and services used by illegal immigrants.
In rejecting Bank of America, the all-Republican board of commissioners told the county’s finance director to investigate Wachovia, which had the next-best offer for banking services, to make sure the bank doesn’t have a similar credit card program.
“We almost went with Wachovia last night,” Price said.
Charlotte-based Wachovia doesn’t have a similar credit card program. But, like Bank of America and many banks, it accepts IDs issued by Mexican consulates from customers who don’t have Social Security numbers when they’re opening checking and other accounts.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/112/story/85073.html