I woke up to sleet pelting the windows in my toasty warm house this morning and wondered what the turnout would be like for the Bank Transfer Day rally/protest at the Bank of America in Uptown, Albuquerque NM.  Fortunately, as is typical with New Mexico weather, it quickly passed.  The day was cold and blustery, but spirits were high as I arrived at the pre-arranged location on Uptown Blvd.  Several people already had arrived and were in various locations on both sides of Bank of America as well as along Louisiana Blvd  After approximately an hour of sign waving, hand waving and thumbs up’s to the cars honking as they went by, the group then marched from BofA to Louisiana Blvd and south down to Indian School Rd where the destination was the New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union paying them respect for all they do.

It was a peaceful day and quite a success.  No police, only two lonely bank guards performing their job.  Kudos to MoveOn.org for arranging the protest and to all the Occupy / (un) Occupy Albuquerque-ians who braved the first wintery day this year and attended.

More than 82,000 people have RSVPed to the movement’s Facebook event, which is supposed to “ensure that these banking institutions will always remember the 5th of November,” by sending a message “that conscious consumers won’t support companies with unethical business practices.”

At least 650,000 people have already switched to credit unions since Sept. 29, according to the Credit Union National Association, after Bank of America announced plans to charge a $5 debit card purchase fee next year. The bank announced Tuesday it was canceling the fee.

The association estimates that credit unions have added $4.5 billion in new savings accounts.  What a wonderful early Christmas gift for the credit unions!

It has been estimated that now over 1 million people have transfered their accounts from a bank to a credit union.

For more pictures, please visit my photo site:  Motley Photos Bank Transfer Day

Peace to all!
Michelle

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