Not surprising. I see pros on both sides.

There is some history here - Bank of America was started by an Italian immigrant to take care of other immigrants who couldn't get bank accounts elsewhere. So in many ways, one could argue this move is about holding on to the company's DNA.

The other side of the coin is that if you encourage saving rather than spending (doesn't cash enable spending more than anything else) it might remove a lot of the stain that illegal immigrants have. The lack of saving incentives is one reason they continue to stay at that economic level without building longevity into their lives. It would also enable the U.S. to use their money, track its use and freeze it if it was terrorist related. Perhaps it is a good thing.

Christopher Hastings

Bank of America’s strategy is nothing less than a continued pilfering of the foundation of the United States of America, an incessant chinking away at the elements of concrete that hold this nation together. A less-than-subtle effort to make money, and masked as an attempt to help those individuals who blatantly circumvent the systems in place to gain legal entry into our country, BofA is clearly aiding and abetting criminal elements.

The only real justification BofA can offer, the only one that is truthful, is additional revenue streams. They care not one whit about the carcinogenic-like, long-term impact they are imposing upon every American, nor upon our country as a whole. Additionally, I aggressively suggest they do not give one damn about immigrants, legal or otherwise; BofA’s only motive is increased profits.

BofA is bringing more sledge hammers and chisels to the chinking party, and doing so certainly can lead to a crumbling of the United States, a slower crumbling for sure, but no less destructive than a commercial airliner striking the WTC.

Any individual who can rightly lay claim to being patriotic and professing a love of the United States and all that it stands for should do nothing short of refusing to do business of any kind with BofA, either directly or indirectly. Doing so would certainly remind BofA which group contributes most to their bottom line, and – possibly – prompt them to refocus on where their loyalties lie.

I certainly hope there will be some legislative recourse available to the United States to put a stop to BofA’s, and any other entity’s, efforts to pillage our country, via the back door, and that such recourse will be engaged with the full might that our government can bring to bear.

Well in that case why not bankroll drug dealers and terrorists. What the heck, the business world has lacked integrity for a very long time. GREED is the operative word. Oh, and stupidity is a close second.

Tom Tancredo is the man who sees the dark days ahead for American taxpayers if we continue down the course Bush has set for us.

Please sign the petition and voice your support of TOM TANCREDO FOR PRESIDENT at the following address: www.petitionspot.com/petitions/tancredo

This is a big problem for US... and the world.

- Steven Burda, MBA
Connect to me: http://www.linkedin.com/in/burda

Do you guys know that immigration encourages non citizens or foriegners to bring and deposit there money here. Without social security or legal status for the purpose of establishing new business and job for you MORONS!!!! And thats the dirty downright truth!

I would venture to say that the government is probably the strongest reason for this new wave of banking. Most of the immigrants are illegally flooding into the states and outside of setting stricter policies on controlling this practice you do need to put systems to track the existing immigrants that are contributing to business on a daily basis.

Simply put... The government, otherwise, would not be able to tax the dollars earned from illegal immigrants. Most immigrants do no report any income or have valid “identity” in the governments’ eyes. By allowing the banks to open up their services to the "untaxed" population the banks and more important the Government will yield great earnings.

The underlying question is to the banks. Are they paying taxes on the monies deposited by the immigrants? Are the banks required to share the personal information with the Government? These are even more important questions that I am seeking answers to... If anyone knows, please help me get answers...

By the way, I am curious why Stephen Burda wrote that comment about America and the world being in big trouble? Can you elaborate on this?

These immigrant/non-citizens/foreigners do not hire americans. They hire their own. But this is besides the point. What about americans who want to buy homes and open businesses. Can they open a checking account for three months, submit no social security number and get credit cards? buy a house? FOUL!!!
Fair is fair. We all had to pay our dues. Jews, Chinese, African-American, Irish, etc, etc... all had to perseverve, work, fight, and push for the benefits we have now.
Bank of America is Foul!
My vote will reflect my opinion of immigration. It's all I have.

After having reviewed the comments of others, I am discouraged that more than one appears to have missed one of the MANY PROBLEMS with BofA’s initiative. BofA DOES NOT require their prospective new customers [read ‘illegal immigrants,’ a.k.a. ‘criminals’] to have a SOCIAL SECURITY number, which – to the best of my knowledge – is the key component in the U. S. Government being able to tax anyone, as well as track most, if not all.

As for the comments by “The Dirty Truth,” the United States encourages immigrants to come here LEGALLY and provides a means for them to do so. BofA intends to cater to ILLEGAL immigrants [once again, for emphasis, read ‘criminals’].

Unless I am terribly misinformed, BofA does not have the legal authority to assign anyone a SSAN nor make an illegal immigrant a legal one. One of your statements also includes the term ‘morons,’ the root word of which – I would suggest – more clearly defines you more so than anyone else. And that is, as you say, “…the dirty downright truth!”

The United States is a melting pot, not a concrete structure. On the other hand, bigotry and racism have always been strong forces in American society, reinforced by greed and ignorance. It is at their hard foundations that immigrants and the decendants of slaves have been chipping away for centuries. It seems obvious that their work is not done...

I do agree with you all at some point that the government are encouraging this foreiegn investors legally but BOFA is not at fault they are just helping people and doing business as usual. It is not their job to determine an individual to be legal or illegal beside the money they bring in to those banks maybe the one financing your very own business, job or even a home mortage. The very tax they paid might be your next paycheck for this month. Free your mind! These people (illegals) are here to work and help your people and their family as well. They are not terrorist. This might be the very person babysitting your child or cleaning your yard while your at a meeting trying to keep your job. Another Dirty downright truth!

In response to “Chris” (as in Posted by: Chris at February 16, 2007 6:01 PM, who may be the original “Chris” - ?), regarding “…a melting pot, not a concrete structure.” -

The United States has long been considered a melting pot. The intent of a melting pot is, over a series of steps, to transform one or more raw products into a “pure” substance. This evolution, from raw ingredients to a “pure” substance, would be a metaphor for the progression through the system established to become a legal citizen of the United States.

It is a clearly marked, legal pathway. It is an opportunity to learn about our heritage, our form of government, and our laws, and to learn at least enough of our language to function at some level, beneficial to the individual, in our society. A significant, intangible benefit is the sense of belonging it imbues. That belonging instills a sense of pride and protectiveness, perhaps not too far removed from a primal will to do whatever may be required to ensure the survival of the group.

In the end, the process yield is the desired “pure” substance – a new, legal citizen of the United States. For having availed oneself of the provided opportunity, the status of citizen of the United States is awarded, a value unmatched anywhere else in the world.

This melting pot does not stand alone. You can choose your own metaphor but, inevitably, it will be a composite intrinsically linked to the Constitution of the United States, its amendments, the Bill of Rights, and to the will of the people.

Regarding “…bigotry and racism…” -

I would submit to you that bigotry and racism have existed since mankind’s earliest days, long before recorded history, and that neither may ever be completely eliminated. Neither bigotry nor racism will dissipate terminally into our recorded history as long as there are those who see one or both in everyone else’s argument without regard to whether it is actually present. To see either where it may well not exist is to perpetuate it. [The use of the word “articulate” conjures up a recent example.] To accuse its existence is to incite it, a breath of resuscitation to the fading glow of the smallest ember, the remnants of a fire that has caused far too much destruction …on both hands….

It seems a plausible idea that not every single individual can ever be accommodated all of the time within a society that is not homogeneous and, even given such a ‘invariant’ societal makeup, I remain filled with great doubt. Rare would be the family that has never had one of its members feel treated less favorably, or different, from another member.

I believe it fair to say that, in human social order, there will always be a sense of the “some animals are better than others” mentality. Fair to say does not maketh it fair to be. A pack of lions will always have an alpha male with subordinate males and females, a pack of hyenas an alpha female with subordinate females and males, and the lions and hyenas will more than likely forever remain mortal enemies. At the end of the day one must acknowledge that, as humans, our phylogeny has not removed us from the animal kingdom. We can only resort to our intellectual abilities to search for an equitable solution for all, and “all” is an inclusive term; all parties must participate in a give-and-take evolution, which – by definition – is never-ending.

Regarding “greed” –

Greed is self-evident in BofA’s initiative that began these exchanges. I strongly believe our national interests are subjugated to the “almighty dollar” far too often and without the consensus of our citizens, who are too frequently inadequately represented at the elected levels of government, from local officials to members of the federal legislative and executive branches.

Regarding “ignorance” -

To think that our great country, the United States of America, cannot be destroyed by means of an unrelenting abuse of its laws, too often masked as an effort to be ‘non-discriminatory,’ is the true ignorance. The uncontested, combined efforts, on many fronts, of those who have the single, ultimate goal of satiating their own self-interests can and will, if left unchecked, bring it down. BofA is just one of the bigger players here. By creating safe zones and similar pockets condoning illegal immigration, city councils, mayors, police officials and other similar official bodies trump the laws of the United States to appease illegal immigrant populations and supportive, activist groups for the direct and immediate benefit of their own self-interests. Doing so is nothing less than aiding and abetting the criminal elements that will contribute to our demise.

Regarding “immigrants and descendants of slaves” –

No one has ever denied that the United States is not a product of immigration, but a continued, unmanaged influx of immigrants alone does not guarantee the perpetuation of our nation, either as is or as an improved version. In fact, other than Native Americans, no citizen of the United States can lay claim to being other than a descendant from immigrants.

Slavery is a very, very sad chapter of shame in our history. No human being, regardless of race, can say otherwise and be intellectually honest.

Additional to my earlier response regarding your “bigotry and racism,” I allude to your “It seems obvious their work is not done…” To one with a hammer, everything eventually begins to look like a nail. My earlier statement (“…those who see one or both in everyone else’s argument without regard to whether it is actually present.”) was a caution to such an outlook, which ensures a lot of nails are going to be hammered down without need, interfering with getting to those that are going to tear your toenail off – long, deep, and very painful.

National security – and public safety – interests aside (briefly), the issue of slavery alone should give long pause to anyone who advocates for, and propagandizes on behalf of, the continued illegal entry of immigrants into the United States. To do so is to foist upon those here illegally a not-so-subtle form of slavery. One would be hard pressed to assert with infallibility that all illegal workers are paid and treated as they would be if they were here legally. Nor is it difficult to believe that illegal immigrants cannot readily access legal authorities (law enforcement, legal representation) and the minimum medical resources that legal residents can.

Our nation, the United States of America, must first expend every effort and resource necessary to maintain and protect her from all enemies, foreign and domestic, organic and synthetic. History has amply demonstrated that anarchy is not a stable form of government, so a first step must be to enforce compliance with our laws. To do otherwise only encourages those who lacked the initial confidence they could get away with breaking our laws. One only needs to watch a television newscast of the looting of a building. Absent those with the authority, resources, and – perhaps, most importantly – the will to restore order, anarchy will reign, and only an empty shell will remain.

As a brief response to the most recent comments by “The Dirty Truth,” (Posted by: The Dirty Truth at February 16, 2007 7:39 PM), I do not equate foreign investors with illegal immigrants. And, may I ask, do you allow persons unknown to you into your home without scrutinizing them? It’s not your “job” to determine if they are law-abiding or criminal, but is has been determined to be quite prudent to do so.

I do not believe the financial impact illegal immigrants may have will influence the overall ability of banks and other financial institutions to make loans to individuals or to assist existing or new businesses. However, it may have sufficient impact to assist other illegal immigrants. But having a business, funding a payroll, and employing others does not make one legal, nor should it. It does not matter how pious a religious leader may be if he breaks the law.

Finally, as I alluded to in an earlier comment session, no one is going to be taxed if there is not a means of uniquely identifying them as a taxable entity (e.g., a social security account number). Until that issue is resolved, it is a moot point regarding how much they may pay in taxes, and the best way to resolve it is for all immigrants to be here legally.

You appear intent on making a case that illegal immigrants be allowed access in spite of our laws. Our government enacted our laws for the purpose of maintaining acceptable order and discipline for the good of society as a whole. These laws continue to be applicable, and are modified judiciously [not always to everyone’s liking] to accommodate unforseen issues. If one knowingly violates our criminal laws, they become a criminal. A bank robber is still a criminal, whether caught or not. Even if a bank robber should return the money and confess to the crime, he remains a criminal and must satisfy the punishment for his crime. All the accruements of a legal citizen of the United States will not bestow legality upon an illegal immigrant.

If any individual, regardless of status, consciously makes a decision to not abide by the laws of the society in which I live, I will have no empathy. In addition to our most generous support and assistance to other nations and their needy, there are systems in place to enable compliance at some level (e.g., work visas, legal immigration, etc.). Failure to comply with our laws is criminal behavior, and pretty much at the top of literally harmful insults one could make towards our country. In this regard, I feel our collective patience is wearing thin. We must draw the line at some point and, as you are fond of saying, that is the "Dirty downright truth!"

In response to Jim. I think your comparison between illegal immigrants as bank robbers and non tax paying individuals is an overkill. Robbing a bank and and entering the country illegaly are two different situation. Yes they were at fault at some point but to treat them as criminals is not fair. They did violate the law at some point but dont be to quick to cast the stones. You are like comparing a traffic violation to a 1St degree murder. There is no other violation more henious than what was than to the African American Race they were kidnap and was criminally humilated and used against their will as slave immigrants. Inspite of the fact that they were part of the backbone of our military during WWI and II. Did they get anything out of it. Its time for us to recognize the illegal immigrants contribution to this country whether you like it or not. They did violate the law but they are not hardened criminals or murderers as you assume them to be they are workers too like you and me trying to better themselves and help others as well. As you said the only way to track them down if they are paying taxes is to make them legals, so let them be!

It's the new "American Way" credit debt from birth to death and if BofA can figure it out - beyond.

My old 1970 Social Security card reads "NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION" (post 1972 cards don't say that anymore). I feel like a government slave with a SS number. So, when Bank of America started to accept credit card applications without SS number I thought this was a step in the right direction. After all this is how business was done, back in the day, before SS numbers.

Liam McGee represents the greed and lack of regard for our nations laws, if you have money. Lets show Liam ans=d Bank of America that we will not put up with their quest for profit at any price strategy. Bank should Terminate Liam!

The "truth" of the matter is, according to the banking statutes, no one needs to use a social security number, besides, the ss# is not yours, it's the Social Security Administrations number, look on the back of the card, they can request it back. I'd rather be a "lawful" American sovereign than a "legal" U.S. citizen.
At least the "Mexicans" will work instead of coming here looking for a hand out--how many do you see using welfare?

It’s so alarming that some credit companies have been cracking down on consumers in the last few months, lowering credit limits and raising interest rates. Almost 60 percent of banks reported to the government last fall that they had raised standards for customers. Can you imagine how much burden thus this credit companies do to consumers. It's good to repair your credit. Obviously, if you have good credit, then you don't have to repair your credit, but otherwise you might want to get going. High interest will compile over time. You don't want to be a slave to the credit cards and companies for the rest of your life. If you need quick credit, then you have other options. You could try a bad credit cash advance, or whatever else you want to call it, quick payday loans, short term loans, installment loans, whatever. You might want to get into debt consolidation sooner rather than later if you're trying to repair your credit.
Link to read: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/04/27/repair-your-credit-ap...