Fighting terrorism and ensuring access complimentary, not competing - officer says

<p>WASHINGTON – The federal government needs to change some of its policies to allow credit unions to offer greater credit union access to immigrants and fight money laundering linked to terrorism. That was the message John Herrera brought to the House Financial Services Committee’s subcommittee on oversight and investigations. “I believe that ensuring access to financial services for all immigrants and shutting down terrorists are not competing, but rather complimentary, objectives,” said Herrera, Vice President of Latino/Hispanic Affairs for the Self-Help Credit Union in Raleigh, North Carolina and Chairman of the Board of Latino Community Credit Union, also based in Raleigh. Herrera outlined the plight of millions of immigrants, primarily from Central and Latin America, who are substantially unbanked here as they were in their home countries. “Two-thirds of our members have never had a financial account in their lives – neither here in the U.S. nor in their home countries – and are working long hours at multiple jobs to help support family members abroad,” he said. He urged the federal government to allow credit unions to accept photo identification issued by other governments and not to establish the requirement for a special number to establish a credit union account.</p>