New Brunswick, N.J. ? Jose Manuel Aparicio had come up with all kinds of clever ways to stash his construction job wages: He slipped bills in between pages of books hidden in his bedroom closet and stuffed money into an old sock in his laundry – places thieves weren’t likely to look.

Without a bank account, “somebody can steal it,” said the 20-year-old, who came to the U.S. from Mexico three years ago. “That’s it, my money is gone.”

Then three months ago, Aparicio applied for a special debit card created to assist immigrants who don’t have Social Security numbers to open savings or checking accounts, or for people who just don’t trust banks.

A nonprofit worker center here called New Labor, which helps immigrants learn English and find jobs, in November became the first in the U.S. to offer the “Sigo” card – a combination of Spanish for “yes” and English for “go.”

The New Brunswick center has distributed 300 cards so far. The program – which is affiliated with MasterCard – is under way at eight other worker centers across the country.

Organizers hope to make it available to thousands of immigrants at 140 worker centers nationwide, enabling them to use ATMs and store credit card machines, pay bills online and avoid high fees for sending money home or cashing checks.

Janice Fine, a Rutgers University labor relations professor who helped create the program, said immigrants often feel intimidated by banks. In a survey Fine conducted of 480 immigrants who were members of worker centers – which charge dues and lobby for better conditions for low-wage workers – 47 percent said they did not have a bank account. The Sigo cards are offered by worker centers because they have developed bonds with immigrant communities.

Critics have denounced such efforts to integrate illegal immigrants in the banking and credit world – accusing them of aiding criminals – but Sigo organizers worry such offers by traditional banks will take advantage of low-income immigrants.

Several banks have marketed pre-paid debit cards similar to Sigo, but often charge higher fees.