In an effort to protect consumers from what the Federal Reserve called "unfair or deceptive" practices by banks issuing credit cards, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act in May 2009. You'd think that since passing this law, unfair, deceptive practices by credit card issuers would have abated, right? Survey says....Not even close.

According to recent report by the Pew Health Group, anti-consumer practices haven't abated in the slightest since the law was passed -- they're actually on the rise.

Credit-card lenders have been increasing fees and interest rates, raising minimum payments and lowering credit limits. Some Citi card holders, for example, have seen their credit limits cut, their interest rates skyrocket as high as 29.99%, or their cards canceled altogether. And just last month, Bank of America announced it was testing annual fees (ranging from $29 to $99) on a select number of card holders.

Pew's report found that a shocking 100 percent of the credit cards offered online by the 12 leading bank card issuers continue to include practices that will be soon be outlawed, once the Credit CARD Act takes effect. Banks surveyed include Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, American Express, USAA and Capitol One.

Want a better credit card? Check out a credit union: Pew's study didn't just look at big card issuers--they took a look at credit unions as well. Their findings: although the largest 12 credit unions control only 1 percent of overall credit card lending, many of their prices are significantly lower compared to those of the largest banks. In addition, credit union penalty charges were both less frequent and less severe than those of banks. Let's take a look at some of those numbers:

Avg. interest rates on missed payment deadlines on unpaid balances:

Credit Unions: 17.9% vs. Banks: 28.8%

Average overdraft fees:

Credit unions: $20 vs. Banks: $39

According to the the Center for Responsible Lending, overdraft fees collected in 2008 have increased by 35% since 2006.

Highest interest rates (in July 2009):

Credit Unions: 13.75% vs. Banks: 21.24%

Interest rates on cards issued by Bank of America, Discover Financial Services and Capital One Financial have actually increased their interest rates by 20% in the last six months.

Making money on the backs of consumers: Though banks aren't compelled to disclose how much of their profit comes from fees, our research shows how JPMorgan Chase's bank fees comprised $3.45 billion, or 71 percent of its profit for the first half of 2009. Citigroup earned $326 million, or 95 percent of its profit, for the same period. Bank of America made 70 percent of its profit, or $5.26 billion, in bank account fees.

Although it was originally slated to take effect in staged phases--upcoming implementation dates were to be February 2010 and August 2010--U.S. lawmakers recently voted to speed up the implementation of new rules to guard against such abusive practices like those documented in Pew's study. The sooner we can hold credit card companies accountable for intentionally trapping consumers into debt from which they cannot recover, the closer we'll be towards fostering a financial system that puts long-term economic growth over short-term, expedient profits.

View Pew's full report: Still Waiting: 'Unfair or Deceptive' Credit Card Practices Continue as Americans Wait for New Reforms to Take Effect.

The protests at the American Bankers Association Conference in Chicago may have finished on Tuesday, but the campaign to demand that big banks stop using our tax dollars to lobby against financial reform is far from over. Big banks took $17.8 trillion in taxpayer bailouts and then turned around and spent $35 million of the taxpayers' money fighting reform and lobbying against the most basic measures to protect consumers.

Adding to the frustration of the situation is the complete lack of responsibility the delegates from the American Bankers' Association accept for the financial crisis their banks' harmful business practices perpetuated. "Bankers care," the ABA's chairman, Arthur Connelly, told more than 1,000 senior executives from banks across the nation gathered at their annual convention in Chicago. "We want to make life better in our communities...[and] traditional banks are the solution to getting this country back on track."

Newsflash, Mr. Connelly: Taxpayers (and their empty wallets, foreclosed homes, and drained pensions) beg to differ. The ABA's annual convention in Chicago was the scene for the series of major protests this week, as thousands demonstrated to show just how sick and tired they are of having big banks treat them like personal ATMs. We're still enjoying the amazing visuals that resulted from the five demonstrations held outside the ABA convention, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs in downtown Chicago. Check out the photos from the October 27th march and rally, which mobilized 5,000 taxpayers to take to the streets:

You can check out photos from the four other demonstrations protesting the ABA, Well Fargo and Goldman Sachs after the break.

To see our live updates and blog posts from the Showdown in Chicago, visit SEIU's Blog here.

The working people taking to the streets this week in the Showdown of Chicago think the amount of money the ABA is spending to lobby against the Consumer Financial Protection Agency is downright scary. To drive their point home, some protesters donned their "Scary Movie"-like costumes a week before Halloween:

At the grand finale of Day 3 of the Showdown in Chicago, a group of protesters dressed like the Grim Reaper held plastic knives that read "making a killing" and "death bonds" at today's protest in front of the American Banking Association's meeting place the Sheraton Hotel, following the protests in front of Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo.

As the lobbying arm of the American banking industry, the ABA's members include the big banks that helped cause the crisis that has resulted in widespread economic devastation and led to $17.8 trillion in taxpayer funded bailouts and backstops for the banks. These banks include Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citibank, which together account for 60% of all bank industry assets and mortgages in the U.S---and all received TARP money.

Now the ABA is spending millions of dollars to obstruct meaningful financial reform. Taking on the banksters has never been so imperative---and tomorrow's Showdown in Chicago will be the biggest event so far this week, where roughly 5,000 union members, farmers, small business owners and activists will descend upon the ABA's annual meeting to demand an end to bank's greed.

The march begins at the corner of Stetson and Wacker Drive at 10:30, followed by a march to the Sheraton, and will also feature speeches by Andy Stern, Anna Burger and Tom Balanoff. Will you join us in making our voices heard?

Outside the ABA conference today are more than 1,000 people with more than 1,000 stories of bank greed hurting families and small businesses. I wanted to share one in particular that grabbed me.

Meet Mary from Cincinnati:

Updated: Video now included below

More than 1,000 taxpayers decided to take a walk down Wacker Drive to see how their money is being used by America's bailed out banks - and to ask for a few changes to prevent another financial meltdown.

Having tried to deliver our letter to the ABA last night and being kicked out, we went directly to the banks today - Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo. The demand, as always, is a simple one: stop using our tax dollars for toxic loans, big bonuses, and anti-consumer lobbying campaigns.

Both banks took our letter. We're two for two right now. With a streak like that, why not try our friends at the ABA one more time? The crowd is headed back to the ABA conference with the letter in hand. Will we go three for three today? Or will the big bank lobbyists give us another cold shoulder?

The rally outside of Goldman Sachs stretched more than a block long:

From inside Wells Fargo:

Here's a new video up from Tom Balanoff's speech at the Showdown in Chicago. He kept the crowd on their feet the entire time. Definitely worth checking out:

Nearly 4,000 jobs were saved with court approval of the sale of Chicago-based Hartmarx Corporation to the British firm Emerisque late last week. Emerisque announced plans before the deal to keep many of Hartmarx's Workers United-represented workers.

Earlier this year, workers voted to occupy their factories to prevent Wells Fargo Bank from liquidating the menswear manufacturing company. "The workers deserve this victory," said Ruby Sims, a Hartmarx employee for 31 years, and one of the Des Plaines plant's union organizers. "This is an important milestone for all of us."

"When the time came, you stood up," SEIU Illinois State Council President Tom Balanoff told Hartmarx workers at a rally yesterday. "You said, they're not going to close our factory. You said, we're not going to let you put us on the street. You said, we're not going to let them do this to our children. You stood up and fought. And you know what, brothers and sisters? You won." Watch highlights from a victory rally with workers, Illinois State Council President Tom Balanoff, and members of Congress.

The fight to keep creditor Wells Fargo Bank from liquidating Hartmarx menswear factory appears to ramping up, as the bailed-out bank said today that it is opposing the $119 million bid by the British private equity firm Emerisque to save the bankrupt men's clothier. But don't you worry, because according to the statement Wells Fargo put out today, they are rejecting the offer in question for the good of the workers employed by Hart Schaffner & Marx.

Riiiight. The same 3,000+ workers who will lose their jobs if chief lender Wells Fargo forces the suit maker into liquidation? Just checking.

The union representing Hartmarx workers, members of SEIU affiliate Workers United, do not plan on taking Wells Fargo's blatant push to doom their company to liquidation lying down. From their statement today:

[...] Wells Fargo's statement is a thinly veiled attempt to force liquidation. It is outrageous for a bank that has received billions in taxpayer money to reject Emerisque's generous bid to save the company and thousands of good jobs.

The union has an understanding with Emerisque that it will assume Hartmarx's obligations to their employees including the union contract obligations. In addition Emerisque will not close the Rock Island Illinois facility. Emerisque is committed to the 'Made in America' label for Hickey Freeman and Hart Schaffner & Marx. These are the kind of good union jobs that are needed in our currently depressed economy. We call on Wells Fargo, recipient of 25 billion dollars in taxpayer support, to have a similar commitment to American jobs.

The president of Workers United, Edgar Romney, today also wrote a letter to the bankruptcy judge for the bankruptcy hearing Monday, reaffirming support by the union for the sale of the menswear retailer to Emerisque, believing that this sale "will not only produce the highest and best offer for the Debtors' assets, but will be instrumental in preserving thousands of jobs during a recession of historic proportions." Read the letter.

"It would appear to us that Wells Fargo prefers a liquidation."

In a separate statement, Emerisque also expressed their disagreement with Wells Fargo's stance: "There is a significant gap between [Wells Fargo's] expectations and the reality of where asset valuations are in the current market. Hartmarx ran a sale process that has lasted almost four months before selecting Emerisque as the stalking horse bidder. The fact that the highest bid was selected after such a lengthy process surely tells its own story. The Emerisque bid is fully diligenced, and financing and ability to close are as certain as is possible at this stage of the process and in this environment. Any suggestion otherwise is simply not truthful.

"Furthermore, all that a stalking horse does is establish a 'floor' value for an auction. It would appear to us that Wells Fargo prefers a liquidation."

As we've previously reported on the SEIU Blog, Hartmarx workers in Des Plaines, Illinois and Rochester, NY stand ready to protect their jobs with the 130 year-old Chicago-based menswear factory--even if it means occupying their local factories in a sit-in.

Will you stand with them?

Big Banks liquidating your workplace like Hartmarx suit makers in Chicago? Now there's a place to turn to for resources to fight back.

Yesterday, SEIU launched "Keep America Working" -- a toll-free hotline and website to support small business owners and workers facing job loss because of frozen credit and liquidation at the hands of bailed-out banks. The new website is www.keepworkinghotline.org and the hotline number is 877-286-1Job (it will be open Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT).

Up until now, there has been no system in place to hold banks accountable for their lending practices, despite the fact that they have received more than $410 billion in taxpayer bailout funds in an effort to restore lending and get the economy moving. The Keep America Working hotline and website will help shed light on the shortsighted practices of big banks who have failed to live up to their responsibilities to taxpayers and are now pushing for company and worker liquidation. SEIU is also working with Rep. Hare and Rep. Schakowsky in getting support from their colleagues to draft a letter to Treasury Secretary Geithner to enlist his help to protect jobs in our communities and hold banks accountable who received TARP for actions that undercut a meaningful economic recovery.

Some of the banks who act as prime lenders to companies that are currently liquidating jobs include--no surprise here-- Bank of America and Wells Fargo. If you're a business owner or employee that's affected by big banks like these putting the squeeze on your company, visit www.keepworkinghotline.org and let us know.

You need help - and you're certainly not getting it from the banks. So call the hotline at 1-877-286-1JOB or visit www.KeepWorkingHotline.org

On May 11, Workers United members at the Illinois Hartmarx facility voted unanimously to occupy their workplace if chief lender Wells Fargo moves to shut the factory down. Watch the short documentary released today on the events at the Hart Schaffner & Marx factory in Des Plaines, IL over the last week:

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow also highlighted the Hartmarx bankruptcy issue on her program Monday night. Watch her segment on the suit makers' plight to save their jobs here.

You can help Hartmarx workers by signing a letter to Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf asking him to choose a bidder who will save these jobs. We'll make sure the letter is delivered with your signature and keep you updated on the situation.

The public gave Wells Fargo $25 billion in bailout funds, but rather than investing that money in American jobs by keeping credit flowing, Wells Fargo is considering cutting the cord.

Workers at Hartmarx, the Chicago-based apparel company that makes President Obama's suits, may lose their jobs if Wells Fargo forces the company to liquidate. Two of the bidders on the manufacturer have said that they see the value in continuing the production of top quality suits and will keep the plant open and a third bidder wants to liquidate.

These Hartmarx workers are members of Workers United, SEIU's newest affiliate.

Please take a moment to sign a letter to Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf asking him to choose a bidder who will save these jobs. We'll make sure the letter is delivered with your signature and keep you updated on the situation.

http://seiuworkers.bluestatedigital.com/page/s/hartmarx

Yesterday, workers at Hartmarx voted in favor of a "sit in," which means that if Wells Fargo or a buyer tries to close the factory, the workers will remain at their job site.

These workers are taking a stand not just for their own jobs for all workers jeopardized by shortsighted banks.

The predecessor unions of Workers United like the ILGWU (remember "look for the union label") have represented Hartmarx employees for almost a hundred years.

Please stand with them today by co-signing the letter to Wells Fargo right now.

Hartmarx employees voted unanimously today to occupy their workplace if chief lender Wells Fargo or and its subsidiary Wachovia Bank should try to shut the factory down. "The vote today says Hartmarx workers are going to hold banks accountable for how they spend taxpayers' money and how they contribute to the future of our economy," said Noel Beasley, Executive Vice President of Workers United, an SEIU affiliate, the union that represents the Hartmarx workers.

As Wells Fargo pushes for a bankruptcy closure of the facility, the plight of 3,500 workers employed nationwide at the Chicago-based Hartmarx retail company has captured the attention of state politicians and numerous labor leaders. The workers were joined by Rep. Phil Hare, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and SEIU Illinois State Council president Tom Balanoff at the rally held after the "sit in" vote at the Des Plaines, IL plant to rally support for the suit maker label, which made the custom-made dark-navy suit Obama wore on Election Night in Chicago.

"Wells Fargo has received $25 billion in taxpayer assistance through TARP. In other words, the workers Wells Fargo may throw out on the street have been subsidizing its operations during these tough economic times. So much for returning the favor," said Rep. Phil Hare, who worked at a Hartmarx factory as a fabric cutter for 13 years. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Wells Fargo has reportedly denied payment to Hartmarx's fabric suppliers since December 2008. The factory filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias also spoke to the workers, saying he will press Hartmarx factories located in other states to take the bank off its list of preferred vendors if it forces the menswear plant into liquidation.

At the rally, more than 500 Hartmarx workers packed the factory cafeteria to applaud the vote outcome, shouting their support and displaying signs that said "Bailout money, $25 billion; CEO bonuses, $30 million; Saving our jobs, priceless" and "Banks get bailed out, workers get sold out."

More details about the Hartmarx workers' fight to save their jobs at Huffington Post, New York Times and SEIU's blog, here and here.

Update: There is reportedly more action in the works in support of Hartmarx workers this week, including a hotline for workers at other companies in financial distress and a congressional letter to Treasury Secretary Geithner. Stay tuned!

Last week we brought you news of the emerging struggle of suit makers for Chicago-based Hart Schaffner & Marx menswear factory, members of SEIU's newest affiliate Workers United, whose jobs are in jeopardy as chief lender Wells Fargo Bank pushes to liquidate the bankrupt company.

Historic "sit in" vote: Mirroring the six-day protest that helped save more than 250 Republic Windows and Doors workers from losing their jobs last December, Hartmarx workers voted unanimously this morning in favor of a "sit in" style action. This means that if Wells Fargo or a new owner tries to begin liquidation or close the factory, the workers will respond by physically occupying the factory.

With more than 3,000 jobs hanging in the balance, employees want the factory's largest creditor and recipient of $25 billion in taxpayers' bailout funds, Wells Fargo, to help it reorganize instead of shutting it down. The public is standing behind the 130-year-old company and slamming Wells Fargo for shortsightedly refusing to invest in U.S. companies and workers.