Bank, credit, and securities complaints | USAGov (2024)

Learn where to file a complaint about banking and investment products, retirement plans, and the companies and professionals that offer them.

File a complaint about a financial institution

To report problems with your bank, financial institution, lender, or broker:

  • Contact the branch manager, the customer service hotline, or the institution's website.
    • Use this sample complaint letter as a guide to help you explain the problem and how you want the bank to fix it.
    • Provide copies of receipts, checks, or other proof of the transaction.

File banking and credit complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

If contacting your bank directly does not help, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint page to:

  • See which specific banking and credit services and products you can complain about through the CFPB
  • Understand the complaint process
  • Find out what documents and information you need to include with your complaint
  • Start the complaint filing process

File a complaint about securities and retirement plans

You can complain to state and federal regulators about investment securities such as stocks and bonds, retirement plans, and the companies that deal in them.

Investment securities

Retirement and pension plans

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

Bank, credit, and securities complaints | USAGov (2024)

FAQs

Bank, credit, and securities complaints | USAGov? ›

File banking and credit complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If contacting your bank directly does not help, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint page to: See which specific banking and credit services and products you can complain about through the CFPB.

Does filing a complaint with CFPB do anything? ›

Consistent with applicable law, we securely share complaints with other state and federal agencies to, among other things, facilitate: supervision activities, enforcement activities, and. monitor the market for consumer financial products and services.

Does filing a complaint with the FTC do anything? ›

The FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection stops unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices by collecting reports from consumers and conducting investigations, suing companies and people that break the law, developing rules to maintain a fair marketplace, and educating consumers and businesses about their rights ...

What kind of complaints does the FDIC handle? ›

The FDIC National Center for Consumer and Depositor Assistance is responsible for investigating all types of consumer complaints about FDIC-supervised institutions and responding to consumer inquiries about consumer laws and regulations. You may call and speak to a Consumer Affairs Specialist about your concerns.

Does filing a complaint with the FCC do anything? ›

The FCC cannot resolve all individual complaints, but we can provide information about your possible next steps. The collective data we receive from complaints helps us keep a pulse on what consumers are experiencing, may lead to investigations and serves as a deterrent to the companies we regulate.

Who holds banks accountable? ›

The regulatory agencies primarily responsible for supervising the internal operations of commercial banks and administering the state and federal banking laws applicable to commercial banks in the United States include the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the FDIC and the ...

Can CFPB get your money back? ›

CFPB Takes Action to Ensure Consumers Can Dispute Charges and Obtain Refunds on Buy Now, Pay Later Loans. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

What are examples of FTC violations? ›

These cases can involve fraud, scams, identity theft, false advertising, privacy violations, anti-competitive behavior and more. The Legal Library has detailed information about cases we have brought in federal court or through our internal administrative process, called an adjudicative proceeding.

What are three of the six types of complaints you can make to the FCC? ›

To file a complaint from the home page, choose the category that best describes your issue:
  • TV.
  • Phone.
  • Internet.
  • Radio.
  • Access for People with Disabilities.
  • Emergency Communications.

When should you file a complaint with the FTC? ›

If you have been targeted by an illegal business practice or scam, report it at Reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you have a question or comment about an issue, please submit it to the appropriate Bureau by one of the methods below. To learn how we may use the information you provide, please read our Privacy Policy.

Where do I file a complaint against a bank in the US? ›

If the OCC does not regulate your bank, please file your complaint with one of the following agencies, as appropriate:
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
  • Federal Reserve Board (FRB)
  • National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)

Why did people oppose the FDIC? ›

They believed a system of deposit insurance would be unduly expensive and would unfairly subsidize poorly managed banks.

Can a bank deny you access to your money? ›

A bank account freeze means you can't take or transfer money out of the account. Bank accounts are typically frozen for suspected illegal activity, a creditor seeking payment, or by government request. A frozen account may also be a sign that you've been a victim of identity theft.

Are FCC complaints taken seriously? ›

Complaints may be shared among FCC bureaus and offices for further review and possible investigation. By filing a consumer complaint with the FCC, you contribute to federal enforcement and consumer protection efforts on a national scale and help us identify trends and track the issues that matter most.

Who should you first contact with a consumer complaint? ›

California Attorney General's Office. File a complaint online at http://oag.ca.gov/. The Better Business Bureau. Go to www.bbb.org, or consult your phone directory for a local office.

What are the three ways of making a complaint? ›

You can complain by phone, in person, or in writing by email or mail. Phone or email first to tell the company about the problem and to try to resolve it.

Does the CFPB respond to consumer complaints? ›

The CFPB sends complaints to companies for response through a portal where companies securely review and respond to complaints.

Does the CFPB really help consumers? ›

We protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices and take action against companies that break the law. We arm people with the information, steps, and tools that they need to make smart financial decisions.

Does the CFPB have any power? ›

The CFPB supervises a range of companies to assess their compliance with federal consumer financial laws. We have supervisory authority over banks, thrifts, and credit unions with assets over $10 billion, as well as their affiliates.

How effective is the CFPB? ›

In 2023, the CFPB filed 29 enforcement actions and resolved through final orders 6 previously-filed lawsuits. Those orders require lawbreakers to pay approximately $3.07 billion to compensate harmed consumers and pay approximately $498 million in civil money penalties.

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