NJ Community Encouraged to Participate in Survey Washington, DC, — Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh advocacy group, is assisting Fleet Bank to determine the financial service needs of the Sikh American community in New Jersey. SMART and Fleet Bank have been in settlement negotiations since July 2002, after Mr. Inderjeet Singh Chowdhary, a Sikh business man from Cartaret, NJ, filed a lawsuit against Fleet when he was denied opening of a CD account. Fleet has prepared a survey in order to assess the financial needs of the Sikh community in New Jersey. The goal of the survey is to determine: · Most accessed financial services and products · Inaccessible financial services · Any special financial needs currently not being met Based on the information provided by the Sikh community, the data from this survey will be utilized to design and develop financial services and products meeting the needs of the Sikh American community. SMART encourages the community to participate in this survey which will help launch special financial programs beneficial to the community.
