Bank Gave Credit Cards to Immigrants Without Social Security Numbers

Bank of America issued credit cards to people without social security numbers, including illegal immigrants.

We often write about not living beyond your means and that credit cards are one of the fastest ways to ruin your financial wellness. I recently received an email telling me how Bank of America issued credit cards to people without social security numbers, including illegal aliens.

“How could this be?” I wondered. “How could the lending institution run a credit check?”

It doesn’t matter what their credit score is, they will make enough money on the credit worthy customers that it will offset any losses on those whose pre-approved credit may go unpaid.

“What?”

Sure enough, I looked it up on Snopes.com and apparently this information is true and the practice started in 2007.

Here is a portion of the email I received:

Bank of America: Can I help you?
Customer: Yes, I want to cancel my account. I don’t want to do business with you any longer.
BOA:Why?
Customer: You’re giving credit to illegal immigrants and those without social security numbers, I don’t think it’s right. I’m taking my business elsewhere.
BOA: Well, Mr. Customer, we don’t want to see you do that, but we can’t stop you. I’ll help you close the account. What is your account number?
Customer: (Gives account number)
BOA: For security purposes and for your protection, can you please give me the last four digits of your social security number?
Customer: No!
BOA: Mr. Customer, I need to verify your information, but in order to help you, I’ll need verification of who you are.
Customer: Why should I give you my social security number? The reason I’m closing my account is because your bank is issuing credit cards to illegal immigrants who don’t have social security numbers. You are targeting that audience and want their business. Let’s say I’m a customer without a social security number and you have given me a credit card. I have a question about it and call for assistance. You wouldn’t be asking me for a Social Security number, would you?
BOA: No sir, I wouldn’t.
Customer: Why not?
BOA: Because you would have pressed “2” to speak in Spanish. We don’t ask for that information when calling in on the Spanish line.

Even if the bank has stopped this practice, this is an example of corporate America openly taking advantage of many illegal aliens by charging them a higher interest rate for the priviledge of having a credit card!

Good Grief!

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