BofA to triple assistance centers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Bank of America says it will more than triple its number of customer assistance centers in the coming weeks in an effort to help customers who have difficulty making their mortgage payments, although there are no immediate plans to add any in Rhode Island.
The expansion will bring the total of centers to 40 in 22 states by early summer. The bank said it will open 28 new centers in U.S. metropolitan areas that have been the hardest hit by the downturn in the economy and housing market.
Additional openings will be announced for the second half of 2011 to further expand the network of centers, Bank of America said.
“Although we see signs of improvement, including slowing mortgage delinquencies, many homeowners continue to struggle to make their payments as a result of hardships in today’s economic environment,” said Rebecca Mairone, national mortgage outreach executive for Bank of America. “Our teams at the customer assistance centers are experienced loan professionals, trained to counsel customers, follow each customer file through the entire loan modification process, make on-site decisions in many cases, and assist with other foreclosure prevention solutions if a modification is not possible.”
Two of the new centers will be in Detroit and seven will be in hard-hit areas of California, including two additional locations in greater Los Angeles.
Other areas to be served by the new centers include Atlanta; Baltimore/Washington; Denver; Houston; Kansas City, Kan.; Miami; Milwaukee; Nashville, Tenn.; Newark, N.J.; New Orleans; Philadelphia; Raleigh, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; San Antonio; St. Louis; and Tucson, Ariz.
Since January, Bank of America has opened customer assistance centers in Alexandria, Va.; Chicago; Glendale, Calif.; Orlando, Fla.; and Seattle. Centers previously opened in Brea, Calif.; Dedham, Mass.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Las Vegas, Henderson and Reno, Nev.; and Phoenix.