Originally published Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 2:03 PM

Calif. city's ID card would double as debit card

A Northern California city is moving forward with plans for a municipal identification card that is being touted as the first in the nation that would double as a full-fledged debit card.

The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. —

A Northern California city is moving forward with plans for a municipal identification card that is being touted as the first in the nation that would double as a full-fledged debit card.

The Oakland City Council this month awarded a contract to issue the cards.

The goal is to help any city residents, including illegal immigrants, who may have difficulty obtaining a state-issued ID.

Card holders would also be able to load money onto their cards and use them wherever ATM cards are welcome. Oakland officials say that would allow people without bank accounts to avoid high check-cashing fees or the need to walk around with large amounts of cash.

San Francisco and Washington, D.C., are among the other cities that offer municipal identification cards, although neither includes a full debit option.

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