Bank of America Freezes Account Of Kansas Man Who Did Not Confirm Citizenship

[appalachiablue]

Source: HoustonEagle,CoxMedia

Josh Collins and his wife, Jessica Salazar Collins, of Roeland Park, said they received a letter from Bank of America last month. One of the questions asked if Josh Collins was a citizen or could claim dual citizenship, the newspaper reported.

Jessica Collins said she threw out the letter, telling the Star that she and her husband “thought it was a scam,” since her husband was born in Wichita. The couple was surprised to learn July 24 that the bank had frozen their account.

In a statement Friday, Bank of America said asking about the citizenship status was not unusual. Spokeswoman Diane Wagner said Collins was not singled out for any particular reason, the Star reported.

“Like all financial institutions, we’re required by law to maintain complete and accurate records for all of our customers and may periodically request information, such as country of citizenship and proof of U.S. residency. This type of outreach is nothing new,” Bank of America said in a statement. “This information must be up to date and therefore we periodically reach out to customers, which is what we did in this case.”...More..




Read more: https://www.houstonseagle.com/news/bank-america-freezes-account-kansas-man-who-did-not-confirm-citizenship/Fa7WD4MPgBgfnl3x1zhYyI/

---

When the Collinses went to a Bank of America branch in Mission, a bank worker’s computer screen showed that a red flag had been placed next to Josh Collins’ name, along with the notation “citizenship.”

[Throck]

1. Banks in PA required me to recertify 2 years ago.

Drivers license and utility bill.

They must of thought I was cartel laundering money with a monthly balance of $312.16. They threatened to suspend my account. Some Homeland Security rule, not a law but a rule.

[Bettie]

8. Well you COULD be the low man on the cartel roster

or you could just be like the rest of us, trying to get by!

Jeez. I did not know about this stupid rule.

[Croney]

2. I don't understand this.

My husband is Canadian and we've had Bank of America accounts for 20 years without being asked about citizenship.

[appalachiablue]

25. Sounds like BS, they had an acct. c. 2000: * Anyone READ this impt. part:

>"Jessica Collins said it was fortunate the family canceled a planned vacation to Minnesota.
“We would’ve found ourselves up there without money,” she told the Star. “No money for gas. No money to feed our kids. For a hotel. No money!” *The Collinses are planning to change banks, the newspaper reported."

[appalachiablue]

32. Kansas City Star news report:

"Bank of America Asked Kansas Man For Proof Of Citizenship And May Ask You Too," By Rick Montgomery, The Kansas City Star, 20 hrs ago. "Josh Collins and wife Jessica Salazar Collins were mystified: Why would the Bank of America, where they've banked since the early 2000s, suddenly ask questions about Josh's citizenship? He was born in Wichita, Kan.
So this thoroughly American couple from Roeland Park ignored a form that the bank mailed them about a month ago asking, among other things, whether Josh Collins was a citizen or could claim dual citizenship with another country...More..https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article215688615.html

*WATCH, VIDEO Interview with Family:
https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article215682220.html



- Josh Collins and his wife Jessica Salazar Collins were notified by Bank of America that Josh, who was born in Wichita, Kan. had to prove his citizenship. They thought it was a scam until the bank cut off access to their assets. The Collins family, from left, Joshua Collins, Jessica Salazar Collins, Trinidad Collins and Josh Collins live in Roeland Park, Kansas (Photo, Kansas City Star).

[bucolic_frolic]

3. They sent me one of those letters

As did another credit card company. My accounts were more than 20 years old and they claimed they didn't ask for as much information back then. They said something about this was to comply with government records requirements, not for the bank. So I assumed it is much like the records required for a brokerage account, but applied to credit cards. They asked about income, and the guy said 'this is for the government, not for our records.' In other words, no bearing on your credit. I said, "I file a tax return, are you telling me the government doesn't know?" I really never got an answer, he kind of laughed it off. So yes, we're being pumped for information to put in databases. We just have to hope the hackers don't steal it.

[erlewyne]

9. Thank you

thank you very much

[bucolic_frolic]

11. lol, can you elucidate slightly

what am i being thanked for?

Thanks!

[erlewyne]

19. I was quoting Elvis

a phrase he used often. It is nonsensical. I am glad you elucidated, bucolic_frolic,
because I have been using two popular credit cards for years and am confused
about their requests about how much money I make. You explained to
me the obvious, I don't have to because I file my tax returns every year
and it is none of their business.

EW

[bucolic_frolic]

29. Ah, that explains it

me, pop-culturally unaware me, never quite understanding the "in" crowd

they still wanted the income info. I suppose they're cross-checking, and that IRS data is private and not available to the rest of the government or the financial institutions. Bottom line for me, the government doesn't know that it knows. Weird.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Switch to an account with a local bank.

It strikes me as utter bullshit that BofA is trying to require this. For one thing, they will already have his Social Security number, which only citizens can get. Non citizens working here get some other kind of number used to report financial transactions, such as income, to the government.

[LuckyLib]

12. Ask to speak to the manager, then have her/him remove each and every

account you have with them, put the funds into a certified bank check, and take it to your local credit union or community bank. It will be a hassle, but we need to protest this "citizenship verification" BS -- it's happening everywhere. Refusing these practices is voting with your feet. I won't have anything to do with B of A, Citibank, or Wells Fargo. Fraud is their middle name.

[cannabis_flower]

14. Actually no

My husband is from Honduras and not a citizen and he has a social security card.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

23. I was under the impression that non citizens got a different

sort of card, with a different numbering system. Apparently I was mistaken.

[LisaL]

41. Non-citizens get the same social security as citizens.

Having a social security number doesn't make one a citizen.

[Bengus81]

42. He has to pay in to SS but can never receive benifits correct?

Unless he becomes a citizen.

[LisaL]

45. No, it's not correct.

Lots of people live in US who aren't citizens. You can legally live in US without becoming a citizen. Why wouldn't they receive benefits?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

49. I read just a day or two ago that non citizens couldn't get SS,

and I just double checked that right now and yes, non citizens who are here legally and have paid into the system are entitled to collect their benefits.

Wish I could recall exactly where I saw that particular misinformation.

[magicarpet]

5. Someone at BoA likely saw the wife's middle name as Salazar...

.... panicked thinking she was some Hispanic M-13 gang drug dealing leader and flagged the account for special review and attention.

[NOMOGOP]

21. Probably a rapist.

[procon]

6. So foreigners can't open a bank account in Kansas?

What it they legally live, work or go to school here? Unless there is some sort of suspicious activity, why is a private company entitled to collect personal information of their customers? The article notes the the bank only asked "for his driver’s license" to unfreeze his account the next day, but that is not proof of citizenship.

This is Kansas, a state where the anti immigrant Kris Kobach has been busy passing laws targeting foreign born people. I suspect this might be some of his handiwork and the Constitutionality is immediately suspect.

Looks like this is only a BofA policy that most other banks do not follow. Another reason to dump BofA.

"Other federally chartered banks, including Wells Fargo, ask citizenship questions when some new deposit accounts are opened. The U.S. Department of the Treasury increasingly is urging financial institutions to collect as much information on customers as possible, including citizenship status, and to update often in part to ward against the laundering of money that may flow through foreign countries."
https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article215688615.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

60. when SOME new deposit accounts are opened.

The Gov. is using money laundering as an excuse to fill their databases.
Plus the big banks seem to be helping out checking for citizenship...for "some" of its customers.

Of course the people ion the story had been customers for some time, not "new" accounts.

The gov will get all its info, of course. Too many people are fearful of "others" and of terrorism now. they will rat out
'suspicious" people, happily.

[Stonepounder]

7. I opened my first bank account somewhere around 1964.

I have had bank accounts ever since. I've had bank accounts in Los Angeles, San Jose, Dallas, Tucson, Kansas City, and Northern KY. I have NEVER been asked by a bank to confirm my citizenship. The only time I have had to confirm my citizenship was when I needed a security clearance.

[lark]

10. I really hate all banks, however

BOA is right up there with Citibank in being despicable.

[deurbano]

18. Don't forget Wells Fargo.

Oh, and Deutsche Bank, the Vulgar Talking Yam's personal piggy bank.

[alwaysinasnit]

13. If a financial institution asks for info and says it is for the government, make sure you ask them

to cite the law/regulation. I don't think it is a good idea to surrender info unless required by law.

[mwooldri]

15. USA PATRIOT Act, Title III.

Banks have to identify who benefits from accounts held by non-citizens.

[alwaysinasnit]

53. Many thanks.

[lagomorph777]

16. BOA is evil. I would never do business with them, Citibank, etc.

[MosheFeingold]

61. + 20000

BOA is the crappiest bank in the USA.

Never bank with a big bank.

I am a vet and can bank with USAA. Best thing I ever got for serving.

[Doreen]

17. I call them the Nazi bank.

Even though I did not have an account with them some years ago I had a run in with them and they are vile. I use Credit Unions.

[KT2000]

20. what about income question?

my bank keeps sending me a questionnaire asking for my income. Is that normal?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

22. Seems normal, if your bank is also an investment house.

I get those questions every year. I think they want to make sure they have investment control over every penny, so they can make the maximum profit.

[KT2000]

31. Oh - OK

that makes sense.

[jgmiller]

24. This isn't a big deal

The IRS (and I'm sure other agencies) require financial institutions to ask this because they need to report foreign ownership due to anti-money laudering laws. These predate Trump, Obama, Bush, etc.

[LudwigPastorius]

26. BoA is one of the worst companies in the world.

They are neck and neck with AT&T as to which one sucks more.

[kimbutgar]

34. My late Dad hated B of A because it didn't give out mortgages to black people

He was a native San Franciscan and the black community in SF knew not to bank at B Of A because it had a racist reputation. My dad’s uncle was a mortician who took care of the African American, Chinese and Hispanic communities. He could never get a business loan from B of A. Even in the 1920’s and 30’s it was understood minorities could not bank at B of A. Cleaning out my parents home I found a manuscript from an interview about Blacks in SF done with my Grandfather and he wrote about how it was understood you don’t bank there if you are a person of color. Crocker bank which got gobbled up by Wells Fargo gave loans to African Americans and a smaller bank called Hibernia also gave loans out to people of color but that was it.

[LudwigPastorius]

35. Doesn't surprise me in the least.

That just goes into my bin of other reasons to hate them; helping precipitate the 2008 crash, being virulently anti-union, etc., etc,. etc.

[appalachiablue]

36. Thanks for sharing this, interesting history & so sad also.

I recall how big Crocker Bank was in SF.

[MarcA]

27. More effects from 9-11 syndrome n/t

[appalachiablue]

28. Anyone read what Mrs. Collins said about this?

>"Jessica Collins said it was fortunate the family canceled a planned vacation to Minnesota.
“We would’ve found ourselves up there without money,” she told the Star. “No money for gas. No money to feed our kids. For a hotel. No money!” *The Collinses are planning to change banks, the newspaper reported."

[kimbutgar]

30. This has got to be A state law

Never have had to provide this info to my bank in California.

This is probably a kobach Kansas law.

[appalachiablue]

33. Very fishy & you're correct about the situation in KS. See #32 Post..

[Bengus81]

43. Can't be a State law--not yet anyway..............

I live in Wichita and have never been asked by my bank personal questions like that. But...they are local and not some Mega POS like BOA.

[turbinetree]

37. Lets not forget the Federalist Society Roberts court said that a corporation is a citizen.....

so let's ask for their paperwork to prove that they are a citizen.

I really want to know who there birth mother and father are...............................


November 2018 cannot get here fast enough.......................vote

[Lonestarblue]

38. Will we all be required to carry papers soon?

The absolute paranoia about citizenship status in this country is leading to a society where evryone is suspected of being here illegally. I received a letter recently that I cannot renew my Texas driver’s license online because I have to show up in person and prove that I am a citizen before they will renew my license. Passport or certified copy of a birth certificate are required. Fortunately, I have both, but many people would not have either and now must pay for a certified birth certificate, especially hard for poor people who may not have the money to do this. It costs $22 for the birth certificate and if you order it by mail, it takes 6-8 weeks, which means your license will expire before you can get your certificate. You can pay for expedited service, but that’s another cost. Do any of you know of other states that are doing this?

[Jedi Guy]

39. This isn't surprising.

My wife and I bank with TD here in Canada. When we established the account they sent a letter requesting further information from me because I'm a permanent resident and not a Canadian citizen.

I don't think there was any nefarious intent on the part of TD, nor Bank of America in this instance.

[Honeycombe8]

40. Lesson: Don't throw out your bank's communications w/o responding to it.

Maybe BAC just sends those things out willy nilly, but I'm guessing there was something unusual somewhere. The money activity, or someone's Social Security number, or whatever. They need to sign up for electronic communication. What if the letter had been lost in the mail?

It's possible my banks asked for that when I opened accounts there. Maybe they've had that account so long that the bank didn't ask that question back then.

The govt does track some money activity by non-citizens, though, I think.

[LisaL]

47. Why is it any of banks business if this guy is a citizen or not?

One doesn't have to be a citizen to have a bank account.

[Honeycombe8]

56. There are laws about banking and citizenship in foreign countries.

Other countries have such laws, too.

[treestar]

44. How can a bank be "required"

To do any of this ? Who is the information for ? This is a bank, not a law enforcement agency.

[metalbot]

48. Despite rumors to the contrary on DU

The banking industry in the US is heavily regulated (perhaps in not the "right" ways, but that's a different issue). They are required to do a whole lot.

What's interesting is that even banking regulations can be subject to interpretation, so you can have fairly large variances between how two banks interpret a given regulatory guideline. Different guidelines also come into play depending on the size of a bank (BoA, for example, is subject to a completely different set of stress tests than your local credit union).

In this particular case, it's likely that the information isn't "for" anyone. It's an attempt to be compliant with one of the various "know your customer" regulations. The bank sets up policies that say "the fact that we follow these policies and that we can prove we follow these policies is how we are compliant". External auditors verify this and sign off on compliance.

[treestar]

52. Ok. Seems a against their economic interests.

They want customers to deposit money, so whether they are citizens doesn’t seem like it would matter to them and it does not seem General that ordinary people are asked to prove it.

Likely a post 911 thing.

[metalbot]

57. It is

This is a direct result of various anti-crime/terrorism initiatives that were launched post 9/11. I think that banks would argue that most of the regulations that they are forced to follow are against their economic interests.

But an important distinction here: nobody is being asked to _prove_ their citizenship. They are being _asked_ their citizenship. BoA would be kicking and screaming to fight having to get people to prove it, because that's actually a hard problem. I suspect that a HUGE portion of Americans would be unable to prove their citizenship without going to the town they were born in and requesting a copy of their birth certificate, which would then be followed by getting proof of name changes for a lot of people.

[Bengus81]

46. Charles Koch lives in Wichita,Ks (at least part time) Would ANY bank question his status?

Oh HELL NO they wouldn't seeing how that turd would have millions if not a billion or two in their coffers. So why should he get a pass?

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

50. I've opened bank accounts recently

and on all of them (banks like Wells Fargo, BofA, Citi, etc.) I was asked (1) if I was a US citizen or (2) permanent resident and (3) if I had another citizenship (I'm a dual Italian/US citizen).

I think this goes back to the Patriot Act and various other regulations intended to prevent money laundering, etc.

[metalbot]

58. What?

There you go. Injecting facts into a perfectly good BoA bashing thread!

[dhol82]

51. Interesting. Back in the fifties, we could set up savings bank accounts via our elementary school.

It was supposed to teach the virtues of thrift.
I had an account that probably took .25/week as a deposit. That was the PSFS bank in Philadelphia.
At that time I was not a citizen. I had refugee status.
Nobody ever asked the burning question. Curious.

[blueinredohio]

54. Sounds like they need a new bank.

[appalachiablue]

55. At the article end, Mrs. Collins mentioned that they almost

went on a trip- to find out no funds for hotel, etc. And, they'll be banking elsewhere.

[aggiesal]

59. Again, there is no document that proves citizenship ...

- Birth Certificate works, but you could move to another country and change citizenship.

- Passport works, but you can be issued multiple passports if you have dual citizenship, and
the State Department has issued Passports to non-citizens as well, so that's not definitive
proof that you're a citizen as well.