NC community groups protest BofA, Wells Fargo

CHARLOTTE -- Community groups who think Bank of America and Wells Fargo have been overcharging consumers plan a protest demonstration. Representatives of North Carolina United Power plan a Friday rally against Charlotte's two mega-banks. The statewide network of congregations and community associations wants the banks to cut consumer interest rates to no more than 10 percent. The groups say the banks raised fees after receiving billions of taxpayer dollars to get them through the credit crisis. The rally comes two days after Bank of America announced CEO Kenneth Lewis will leave the company. He was caught up in probes into whether he and other bank executives misled shareholders by allowing billions of dollars in early bonuses to Merrill Lynch employees. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)