Money-grubbers

The Bank of America Corporation is taking some fire over its new program to offer credit cards that don't require the applicant to use a Social Security number. This is odd, since every other credit card issuer in the nation requires a SSN to open an account, for identification and tax reasons.

Why is Bank of America doing this? Perhaps learning who the target of this new campaign is will illuminate things:

"The bank's pilot program, revealed last week, focuses on Hispanics in the Los Angeles area."

The program is nothing more than a blatant attempt to get business from illegal aliens, who are pretty much the only people in the U.S. without SSNs, other than infants and people hiding their identity. Of course, BofA vigorously denies this, saying:

"Bank of America requires other identification to open accounts."

I'd bet money that all the ID that they require is those "matricula" cards issued by the Mexican Consulate, that don't mean a darn thing other than that "this person showed up here and we gave them this card with their picture on it". It's equivalent to going down to the local Ritz Camera and getting a photo ID made. It's an ID, all right, but not issued by any official government entity using any proof of identification such as a birth certificate or green card. Bank of America apparently has been having customer service issues, as well as being close to a cap on U.S. depositor funds that it can accept, forcing it to find new income sources. I don't think this is a good way to go about it.

I haven't even mentioned the fact that terrorists could use this program as a way to funnel money to their operatives in this country without being easily tracked. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-CO, noticed that fact as well:

"After September 11th, we were told that money was the lifeblood of terrorists, and that we should do everything possible to block their access to financial resources. Today we are hearing a far different message."

I agree wholeheartedly.