While the matricula, which means registration in English, has been around for decades, only recently has the card been accepted to prove identity for everyday needs, said Luis Castresana, documentation and communities consul at the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento.

"We've seen too many cases where money gets stolen on payday," Castresana said. "Many times, bills are paid in cash and a lot of money is transferred to relatives back in Mexico. Unfortunately, this makes some immigrants easy prey."

Castresana added that having a credit union or bank account could alleviate the charges that some transfer services charge because a debit card transaction is seamless and doesn't require large cash withdrawals.

Because many Mexican residents live in West San Bernardino, Arrowhead starting accepting the matricula last January at one of its branches and while Regulation Z prohibits the tracking of members who use the card, more members are using the matricula to open up checking accounts, said Rafael Salazar, branch supervisor of new accounts.

"Our priority has always been member services and since our community is primarily Hispanic we try to accommodate them, be it with our bilingual staff or accepting the matricula," Salazar said.

Family Federal Credit Union in Wilmington, Ca. has accepted the matricula for more than five years but Hispanic immigrants who may not have all the necessary documentation to open an account are given advice, resources and are informed of alternative ID types, said Lucia Moreno-Linares, CEO.

"We try to be flexible because we always prefer a valid document over a false one," Moreno-Linares said. "Ironically, the matricula is not always the main type of ID presented, but we are very diligent in cross-checking any ID presented with other personal or employment information. The bottom line is I want my members to be informed and have current information. I've sent some members down to the consulate to register."

With today's heightened security measures, immigrants in particular find themselves in greater need of valid identification, Castresana said. He estimates that matricula applications have increased by 50% since Sept. 11.

One immigrant rights group wants the matricula to be used to rent apartments, buy airline and trains tickets and get medical care. Lawrence Reichard, program coordinator of the American Friends Service Committee's Rural Economic Alternative program in Stockton provides social services for Hispanic immigrants and lobbies for legislation. He's seen many cases where poor, illiterate Mexicans have been "gouged" by labor contractors, extorting as much as 10% of their paychecks.

"Some of them are blatantly being ripped off," Reichard said. "We're hopeful the matricula will help cut down on these cases if banks and credit unions are willing to accept them." [email protected]