Refugees learn American banking and credit

By Caitlin Esch
citizenship_0.jpg
Refugees must learn how to open bank accounts and establish credit to build their lives in the U.S. Above, more than 4,000 immigrants take the U.S. citizenship oath at a Los Angeles ceremony in Los Angeles. Caitlin Esch
citizenship_0.jpg
Refugees must learn how to open bank accounts and establish credit to build their lives in the U.S. Above, more than 4,000 immigrants take the U.S. citizenship oath at a Los Angeles ceremony in Los Angeles. Caitlin Esch

Refugees learn American banking and credit

By Caitlin Esch
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One of the big stories of 2015:  the Syrian refugee crisis. The Obama administration announced earlier this fall it plans to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016. Some governors asked that they not be resettled in their states, and there have been debates in Congress over the effectiveness of the screening process.

Currently, refugees must pass extensive health and security checks. And then once they arrive, they have to build lives — find jobs, rent apartments, open bank accounts.

As part of that process, they attend classes. We went to one at the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, where Cultural Orientation Coordinator Christopher Rhodes shows refugees how to establish credit, apply for public assistance and open a bank account.