U.S. banks find customers in Mexican Consulate

[Judi Lynn]

Dec. 9, 2006, 7:41PM
An ID card and an account
U.S. banks find customers in Mexican Consulate

By JENALIA MORENO
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

On a recent visit to the Consulate General of Mexico, Maria de Lourdes Peña was approached by someone you wouldn't expect to find working in a foreign government office — a U.S. banker.

Katherine Flores was there to generate business for Wells Fargo & Co. and offered to help Peña open a checking account.

Peña immediately agreed, since one of the main reasons she was there was to replace her stolen ID, also known as a matricula consular card, so that she could open a bank account.

"I want to have money in the bank instead of in my mattress," said Peña, 37, who would like to use the bank account to help her send money to her three children in Guadalajara.

The San Francisco-based bank's new approach to boosting immigrant customers follows that of Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America, which began sending its bankers to the Houston consulate office in July.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/4390484.html

[Vidar]

1. Beware of bankers bearing gifts.