Bank needed prodding

Readers should be provided the history behind Bert Caldwell’s “BofA reaches out to help troubled mortgage holders” (May 29). Given all the negative press Bank of America has received over recent years, no one should be surprised that BofA did not choose to send out representatives to work with homeowners out of the goodness of their hearts. In fact, BofA was forced to be accountable for their handling of the foreclosure crisis by Washington state Treasurer James McIntire and the Sound Alliance, a group of churches, labor unions, education associations and other civic associations.

Because of the efforts of Treasurer McIntire and the Sound Alliance, BofA agreed to the event in Spokane Caldwell’s article was about. Under pressure from the Sound Alliance, BofA has finally opened its first in-person customer assistance center in Washington.

Rev. Stephen Tellari of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia has publicly asked David Swartley, senior vice president and regional manager of Bank of America, to commit to quarterly meetings with a team of Alliance leaders to monitor the effectiveness of the center. Mr. Swartley has publicly refused to attend these accountability meetings.

Jennie L. Willardson

Spokane Valley