LOS ANGELES – Bank of America Corp. now offers credit cards to customers without Social Security numbers, a sign that the banking industry is aggressively courting Hispanic consumers, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Banks across the nation have started to allow undocumented immigrants, many of whom are Hispanic, access to checking accounts and mortgages. However, these immigrants have been unsuccessful in getting major credit cards, making it difficult to develop a credit history.

Bank of America’s new program allows individuals without a Social Security number and a credit history to obtain a credit card, as long as they have held a checking account with the bank for three months without an overdraft, the newspaper reports. Many adults in the United States who do not possess a Social Security number are undocumented immigrants.

After testing the program last year at five Los Angeles branches, Bank of America expanded it to 51 locations in Los Angeles County. The bank has plans to debut the program nationally later in 2007.

"We are willing to grant credit to someone with little or no credit history," Lance Weaver, Bank of America's head of international card services, told the newspaper.

The credit cards have a high interest rate and an upfront fee attached to them. While the idea of courting illegal immigrants is controversial, Bank of America says it is complying with U.S. banking and antiterrorism laws.

In other credit card news, Visa USA has unveiled a new advertising campaign designed to raise awareness of its premium-rewards cards, The New York Times reports. Visa Signature debuted its checklist of “Things to do while you’re alive” in print and online advertisements, as well as on a redesigned Web site, this week.

“We have a little more of a challenge than American Express,” Susanne D. Lyons, CMO for Visa, told the Times. “Visa is so well known as a broad-based market, so we had to create a very clear line.”

The premium cards aim to connect with Americans with an annual household income of more than $125,000. Lyons told the newspaper that Visa wants the campaign to increase consumer awareness of the Visa Signature sub-brand and to acquire new customers.