ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifth Third Bank,
Chicago, has begun a series of programs tailored to better serve the
unique needs of the Chicago-area Hispanic community.
(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010712/STAMPER )
"As a first step," said Bradlee Stamper, President and CEO of the
bank, "we have begun accepting two new means of identification for
persons otherwise shut out of the U.S. banking system.
"Starting now, we will honor the Matricula Consular Card issued by
the Government of Mexico and the Internal Revenue Service's Taxpayer
Identification Number as legal identification for undocumented
immigrants who lack Social Security numbers to open savings and
checking accounts."
The action makes Fifth Third Bank, Chicago, one of the first banks
in the nation to extend banking privileges to undocumented immigrants.
The bank serves several predominantly Hispanic communities in its
service area, an 11-county region in Northern Illinois and Northwest
Indiana.
The Matricula Consular Card incorporates a series of security
features making it extremely difficult to forge or counterfeit. It is
available through the Mexican consulate in Chicago and is offered by
the Government of Mexico to improve security and economic mobility
between the United States and Mexico.
The card and the IRS identification number offer undocumented
immigrants access to checking, savings and debit card services for the
first time at any of Fifth Third Bank's 116 banking locations.
"These two new identification systems are just the first phase of a
major effort throughout our banking system to better serve the
Hispanic community," Mr. Stamper said.
A bilingual 1-800 line will help customers and prospects obtain
bank information and services. The new line is 1-800-726-3493.
Bank literature is being rewritten and republished in Spanish, as
well. And, ATMs are being modified to communicate in both English and
Spanish.
"Our staff has always had a certain bilingual capability," said Mr.
Stamper, "and we're expanding that base to include more and more
Spanish- speaking service representatives.
"In addition, we have planned an entire series of new banking
services specifically for the Hispanic marketplace, tailored to the
needs of this significant and growing segment of our community."
Among those offerings would be specializing personal loan, mortgage
loan and other lending packages, user-friendly checking and savings
options, and a range of commercial and business banking services
designed just to the Hispanic business community.
Mr. Stamper pointed out that U.S. Census Bureau data shows the
entire Chicago metropolitan area boasts the nation's fourth-largest
Hispanic population -- 6 percent.
"These communities include individuals and businesses characterized
by very high regard for financial security and thrift. Key household
measurements show high levels of concern for the well-being of their
families, and very high thrift and achievement goals, making them the
kinds of customers we like to serve," Mr. Stamper said.
Fifth Third Bank, Chicago, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth
Third Bancorp
(NASDAQ: FITB) . The Chicago subsidiary has $8.5 billion in
assets, $6 billion in deposits, 400,000 customers in Northwest Indiana
and Northern Illinois. It operates four major businesses: retail,
commercial, investment advisors and consumer lending through 116
full-service banking centers in a 11-county area from Elkhart, Ind.,
to Sterling, Ill.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010712/STAMPER
PR Newswire Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
Source: Fifth Third Bank
Contact: Bill Shaffer of Fifth Third Bank, +1-847-871-6066
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