What's happening
This bill requires New York banks to follow state-issued guidelines on valid identification for foreign-born nationals, including review of consular and immigrant documents.
Why it matters
Standardizes ID acceptance. By requiring all New York banking institutions to follow state-issued guidelines on acceptable identification, the bill removes inconsistencies and potential discrimination in how banks treat foreign-born nationals, ensuring clearer, uniform access to financial services.
Expands document recognition. The mandated review of consular IDs, DACA, and registered provisional immigrant documents could enable more immigrants—including undocumented individuals—to use foreign or immigration-related documents to open bank accounts, promoting financial inclusion for populations that are often unbanked.
State oversight and accountability. By placing responsibility on the Department of Financial Services to evaluate and define valid IDs, the bill increases state oversight over banks’ identification policies, potentially reducing arbitrary rejections and creating a formal process for updating accepted documents as immigration policies evolve.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand ID Options for Immigrants
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to banks
- Referred to banks
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6385
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 6, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Banks
AN ACT to amend the banking law, in relation to proof of identification for foreign born nationals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The banking law is amended by adding a new section 6-n to read as follows:
§ 6-n. Proof of identification for foreign born nationals. 1. Every banking institution transacting business in this state shall follow guidelines issued by the New York state department of financial services as to what shall be accepted as a valid form of identification for all banking transactions and services.
2. The New York state department of financial services shall (a) complete a review of the validity of consular identifications issued by foreign governments to their citizens living in New York state by September first, two thousand seventeen; (b) issue guidelines to banking institutions as to what shall be accepted as a valid form of identification for all banking transactions and services by November first, two thousand seventeen; and (c) examine how deferred action for childhood arrivals and registered provisional immigrant status documentation can be used by foreign born nationals to open bank accounts and report its findings by September first, two thousand seventeen.
3. For the purposes of this section, the term "banking institution" shall mean and include all banks, trust companies, savings banks, savings and loan associations, licensed foreign banks and credit unions.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07988-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.