Banks combat identity theft

MORE HELP is on the way for victims of identity theft, one of the nation's fastest growing crimes.

Two big banks -- Citigroup and Washington Mutual -- have started free programs to assist customers whose names or accounts are compromised by thieves. And in June, a national organization representing some of the largest banks, brokerages and finance companies will launch an Identity Theft Assistance Center to help victims clear their names.

"ID theft has reached epidemic levels in the United States, and our customers are having real problems," said Steve Bartlett, president and chief executive of the Financial Services Roundtable, the Washington, D.C., organization behind the center. "We're going to try to help them."

from San Mateo County Times