BANKS WAIVE HOLOCAUST-REPARATIONS TRANSFER FEES.Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer Washington Mutual “WaMu” redirects here. For the Washington, DC radio station, see WAMU. Washington Mutual (or WaMu; NYSE: WM) is the United States' largest savings and loan association. , Wells Fargo Wells Fargo armored carriers of bullion. [Am. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 1147] See : Protectiveness Wells Fargo company that handled express service to western states; often robbed. [Am. Hist. and several other banks have agreed to waive up to $360 in annual wire-transfer fees for Holocaust survivors There are many famous Holocaust survivors who survived the Nazi genocides in Europe and went on to achievements of great fame and notability. Those listed here were, at the very least, residents of the parts of Europe occupied by the Axis powers during World War II who survived who receive war reparations. Many of the 22,000 Holocaust survivors living in California receive reparations reparations, payments or other compensation offered as an indemnity for loss or damage. Although the term is used to cover payments made to Holocaust survivors and to Japanese Americans interned during World War II in so-called relocation camps (and used as well to - compensation required from Germany for damage or injury during World War II. Now, for those survivors who receive payments, which can average about $300 a month, five banks have agreed to waive wire transfer fees: City National Bank, First Federal Bank of California The Bank of California was founded in San Francisco, California on July 5, 1864 by William Chapman Ralston. It was the first commercial bank in the Western United States, the second-richest bank in the nation, and considered instrumental in developing the American Old West. , Washington Mutual, Wells Fargo and World Savings. ``There are many poor, elderly survivors out there who are struggling,'' said David A. Lash, executive director of the nonprofit public interest law firm Bet Tzedek. ``This is an extremely important move that will hopefully inspire other banks to following suit.'' Bank representatives, Holocaust survivors and local politicians gathered in a conference room at The Jewish Federation on Tuesday morning to announce the outcome of more than six months of discussions. ``The primary issue is that eliminating these fees can help people who are in financial need,'' said Darrell Brown, a senior vice president and regional manager for Wells Fargo. Brown anticipates that the bank will begin to waive the fees in about a month. The banks' decision stems from a letter written to Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Woodland Hills, in August 2001. The Encino writer, who prefers to remain anonymous, called on the nation's banks to do what many New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of banks have already done. ``I am a child survivor of the Holocaust and receive a monthly restitution wire transfer to my account,'' the letter reads. ``The bank charges a monthly fee of $10 for the service. New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. banks have agreed to no longer charge that fee. I'm wondering if you could help in brokering a similar agreement with banks in Los Angeles or California.'' Those words eventually provoked Jenny Toder, who works in Pavley's office, to approach banks that have a significant presence in California. ``We went right to the top when we called on these banks,'' Toder said. ``When they began cooperating, we obviously became very excited. Several banks, including Bank of America
Bank of America (NYSE: BAC TYO: 8648 ) is the largest commercial bank in the United States in terms of deposits, and the largest company of its kind in the world. , are still considering waiving the transfer fees. Toder said there weren't any banks that ``flat out said no.'' John Gordon, a child survivor of the Holocaust, doesn't understand why banks would be tentative about dropping such a fee. ``Not only is it good public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most , it can help survivors that are impoverished,'' said Gordon, who escaped the Nazis' occupation of Hungary in 1944. Washington Mutual has already waived the transfer fees nationwide. Jan Lynn Owen, Western regional manager, said the fees were most likely wiped away without formally notifying the customers. ``I don't believe we sent out any letters,'' Owen said. ``We just stopped charging a transfer fee for those it applied to. We're very happy to participate in this.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) A letter written to Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Woodland Hills, shown here Tuesday addressing The Jewish Federation, has resulted in several major banks agreeing to waive fees for transferring reparations payments to Holocaust survivors. John McCoy/Staff Photographer |
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