A new policy at some Chevy Chase bank branches is allowing immigrants from three Latin America countries to open an account without U.S. identification, and it's causing quite a stir between customers.

"It's a great opportunity for doors to open for people, a chance for them to have a better financial situation," Luis Imana said. The bank is accepting national identification from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

Franklin Novanis recently opened his new checking account with his consular I. from El Salvador. "In the future, now I can keep my money secure. You can't always leave your earnings lying around the house."

Some people worry it's going a bit too far, maybe even violating the Patriot Act. "I lost my ID as an American citizen and I had to give an ID or social security card and I have a problem with that," Todd Strickland said.

Enrique Carillo is the Director of Hispanic Banking for the local chain. He said Chevy Chase has done extensive security studies on the embassy issued ID's. "In fact these cards are more secure than a driver's license you would obtain in Maryland, Virginia or even in D.C."

A native of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, Michelle Commodore believes the pilot program should be open to everyone. "When I go in to open an account, I have to show a form of ID with like a Pepco bill, Washing Gas bill, a major utility."

Bank officials said their job is not to check the legal status of a person just to make sure they are financially secure. The three nations were chosen because the majority of the people who live in the area are from those nations.

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