Please share this with any Bank of America customers (http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/26/0232235&from=rss) you know.

The loss of the SmartPay information could hurt Bank of America's chances to renew its contract with the government, said Mark Amtower, a partner at Amtower, which advises businesses looking to market to the federal government.

I certainly hope so. I don't know anybody in the military that likes the "SmartPay" program.

I certainly hope so. I don't know anybody in the military that likes the "SmartPay" program.
We have several armed forces personnel and their families on this forum so I thought about when I posted this.

Blah Blah lost tapes... blah blah... I am sure all the data on the back up was encrypted anyhow.

Glad I left BOA when I did.

Friend of mine just left BOA. Oddly enough, I'm about to open an account with them. What other banks are everywhere (other than maybe citibank). If not for anything, I do get a $100 target gift card for signing up :)

Blah Blah lost tapes... blah blah... I am sure all the data on the back up was encrypted anyhow.

Glad I left BOA when I did.

Unfortuneately, military members don't have that option.

They MUST have a BoA credit card.

They MUST use it and have a portion of their reimbursements paid directly to it.

They normally MUST pay it themselves IN FULL each month because the military is slower on paying than the card sends the bills.

It is a crappy situation in all.

come to think of it... i still have a BOA credit card. Again, Im not worried about someone finding out my personal info. If they want my info, anyones info can be bought online for around $50 bucks,

It is a crappy situation in all.
Agreed.

Why doesn't the military use USAA instead of BOFA? It would be nice if you had a choice of financial institutions and products.

Unfortuneately, military members don't have that option.

They MUST have a BoA credit card.

They MUST use it and have a portion of their reimbursements paid directly to it.

They normally MUST pay it themselves IN FULL each month because the military is slower on paying than the card sends the bills.

It is a crappy situation in all.

Maybe that's only for Air Force, or overseas? We are not required to use B of A. Dh and I do all our banking at the credit union on post. I don't like it, actually, and had been thinking of going back to B of A (my bank before we got married and moved out here), but now I'm thinking we won't. We will need to set up an account at a nationwide bank before we move away, but for now I think we'll stay at the credit union.

All dh (who is active duty Army here in the states) is required to have is a checking account, for direct deposit. I've never heard of making any one bank mandatory or making it mandatory to have a credit card. They heavily advertise the Star Card here (do you have that? It's offered by AAFES at the PX) but nothing is mandatory.

Maybe that's only for Air Force, or overseas? We are not required to use B of A. Dh and I do all our banking at the credit union on post. I don't like it, actually, and had been thinking of going back to B of A (my bank before we got married and moved out here), but now I'm thinking we won't. We will need to set up an account at a nationwide bank before we move away, but for now I think we'll stay at the credit union.

All dh (who is active duty Army here in the states) is required to have is a checking account, for direct deposit. I've never heard of making any one bank mandatory or making it mandatory to have a credit card. They heavily advertise the Star Card here (do you have that? It's offered by AAFES at the PX) but nothing is mandatory.

Perhaps it is just the airforce.

But the DW (hehe... see I can do that too) is required to have a BoA card. As are all of the flight crews. This is so that they can charge rooms travel expenses etc. They are "required" to use the card and will be counseled if they don't.

I've never had good experience with them. I first joined them in Texas because the were Bank of "America." So, they had branches all over. (Or so I was told by their friendly staff). And Indeed they do... We moved to Arkansas next, so I went to the local BoA and said...

"Good day... I would like to deposite this check please."

"We are sorry sir, you will have to fill out this special form every time you want to make a deposit in to our bank."

"Oh, ok... so I fill this out instead of the normal deposit slip?"

"No sir, you must fill this out in addition to your normal deposit slip."

"But it has the same information on it as my normal deposit slip. It is just in a different fomat."

"Yes sir, but you have a 'Texas' Bank of America account and not an 'Arkansas' Bank of America account. Their records are kept separately."

"You both have the same logo and name. Are you not the same company? That was the whole point of using your bank since I will move often"

"Yes sir, we are both Bank of America. You can use any of our facilities nationwide."

"Ummmm... but I will have to fill out extra paperwork where ever I go?"

"Yes sir, that is the way our system works."

"Ok... what about direct deposit. Can I set that up?"

"Yes sir, you would just have to contact your bank in Texas."

"But isn't this my bank?"

"Yes sir, we are just a different branch"

"Ummmmm.... ok. What about ATMs. Can I use your ATMs without any fees?"

"Yes sir, that will not be a problem."

"Great, can I make deposits there?"

"Yes sir, you will just have to come inside to get one of these extra forms to fill out."

"I see... I would like to close my account..."

^^
This dialog based on a true story. I just get a local bank where ever I go now. Leson learned. My wife uses USAA which is great for her and we have that where ever we go.

They sent me a pre-approved application for a credit card today. Yah...just show me where to sign :rotflol: