In 2011, a new agency called the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will be created, and all consumer finance complaints should be directed to it. Meanwhile, you should still use the old system of filing complaints described below.
To file a complaint against a lender, you need to know who regulates it. Among other things, this depends on whether your bank has a federal or a state-based charter. Use these pages to figure out who regulates your lender, or follow our suggestion below.
If you cannot figure out who regulates your lender, we suggest filing your complaint with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), The Federal Reserve Board (FRB), and your State Banking Office. Both the OCC and the FRB promise to reroute complaints mistakenly filed with them.
It’s not always easy to identify who regulates your lender, but the name of your lender might provide a hint (see chart below).
If your bank’s name doesn’t help, check these lists to see if your bank is a national bank or an operating subsidiary of a national bank. If so, it is regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and you should file your complaint with them.
| If... | Then... |
| “Federal Credit Union” is in the title, | Your bank is likely a Credit Union. Complain to the National Credit Union Administration. |
| “National” is in the title, | Your bank is likely a National Bank. Complain to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. |
| “National Association” is in the title, | Your bank is likely a National Bank. Complain to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. |
| The initials “N.A.” are in the title, | Your bank is likely a National Bank. Complain to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. |
| The initials “NT&SA” are in the title, | Your bank is likely a National Bank. Complain to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. |
| “Federal” is in the title, | Your bank is likely a Federally Chartered Savings Bank. Complain to the Office of Thrift Supervision. |
| The initials “FSB” are in the title, | Your bank is likely a Federally Chartered Savings Bank. Complain to the Office of Thrift Supervision. |
If you happen to know what type of bank your lender is, this chart can tell you where to complain.
| Lender Type | Regulator |
| National Banks | Office of the Comptroller of the Currency |
| Operating Subsidiaries of National Banks | Office of the Comptroller of the Currency |
| Branches of Foreign Banks | Office of the Comptroller of the Currency |
| Federal Credit Unions | National Credit Union Administration |
| State-chartered Credit Unions | Click Here |
| Savings Associations | Office of Thrift Supervision |
| Federally Chartered Savings Banks | Office of Thrift Supervision |
| Credit Reporting Agencies | Federal Trade Commission |
| Non-Bank Lenders | State Banking Office (click on your state on the map) or the Federal Trade Commission |
| State-chartered Banks in the Federal Reserve System | The Federal Reserve Board and your State Banking Office (click on your state on the map) |
| State-chartered Banks outside the Federal Reserve System | The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) and your State Banking Office (click on your state on the map) |
| Third party debt collectors | Federal Trade Commission |
The Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau is not a regulatory agency, and cannot
enforce any action against your bank. However, filing a complaint with
them can serve as a warning to other consumers about your lender.
The United States Congress
Tell
the your representatives that you're outraged by predatory lending, and
that you are filing a complaint against your lender. This will alert
them to your problem as well.
Americans for Fairness in Lending (AFFIL) and Americans for Financial Reform (AFR) are partnering to reform the nation's lending industry and financial system to protect Americans' neighborhoods, homes and pocketbooks.
Visit our Blog for the latest news from around the consumer community.
Print this page