MILLION AMERICANS HAVE NOW FILED
FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE LAST
MONTH.
AND WITH SO MANY PEOPLE AWAITING
RELIEF FROM THE GOVERNMENT, NOW
COMES WORD THAT, IN SOME CASES,
BANKS MAY BE ABLE TO SEIZE PART
OR ALL OF THOSE FEDERAL STIMULUS
PAYMENTS.
EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER JOSH
HASKELL EXPLAINS WHY.
JOSH: PART OF THE $2 TRILLION
CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS PACKAGE
INCLUDES ONE-TIME CASH PAYMENTS
OF UP TO $1200 FOR AMERICANS
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT A LOOPHOLE IN THE LAW COULD
PREVENT YOU FROM EVER SEEING 
MONEY IF YOU'RE INT LOAN
OR CREDIT CARD DEBT.
IN LEAKED AUDIO OBTAINED BY THE
AMERICAN PROSPECT, RONDA KENT,
CHIEF DISBURSING OFFIH
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT'S BUREAU
OF FISCAL SERVICE, APP
GIVE BANKS THE GO AHEAD TO 
THE STIMULUS AS A WAY TO COLLECT
DEBT.
>> IF A PAYEE OF A FEDERAL
PAYMENT OWES A DELINQUENT DEB
THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO
TREASURY FOR COLLECTION, WE WILL
INTERCEPT THAT PAYMENT TO PA
BACK DEBT.
 TO PROVIDE MILLIONS OF
AMERICAN'S WITH EMERGENCY
FINANCIAL HELP DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S WITH 25
STATES HAVE ASKED T
SECRETARY MNUCHIN TO INSTRUCT
BANKS TO PROTECT THE PAYMENTS
FROM DEBT COLLECTION.
EYEWITNESS NEWS REACHED OUT TO
WELLS FARGO, JP MORGAN CHASE,
BANK OF AMERICA, AND NK
, WHO ALL SAID THEY'VE TAKEN
ACTIONS TO GIVE CUSTOMERS FULL
ACCESS TO THE STIMULUS MONEY.
IN A STATEMENT, WELLS FARGO
SAID, "TO DO OUR PART TO PROVIDE
OUR CUSTOMERS ACCESS TO THE
STIMULUS PAYMENT FUNDS, WELLS
FARGO IS PAUSING FOR 30HE
COLLECTION OF NEGATIVE BALANCES
EXISTING AT THE TIME WHEN
STIMULUS PAYMENTS ARE
DEPOSITED."
THE NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW
RECOMMENDS THAT ANYONE EXPECTING
A STIMULUS CHECK SHOULD MONITO
