Identify Your Lender and its Regulatory Agency

Table of Contents:

Our Suggestion
Who Regulates Your Lender?  It’s in the Title (Sometimes)
Full Lender Regulator Chart

To file a complaint, you should file it with the body who regulates your lender.  It’s not always easy to identify this body, but the name of your bank might provide a hint (see chart below).

If your bank’s title doesn’t help, you can 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.

Our Suggestion

We suggest filing your complaint with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve Board, and your State Attorney General.  Both the OCC and the FRB promise to reroute complaints mistakenly filed with them:

“If your complaint involves a bank or other institution not regulated by the OCC, we will refer it to another agency. We will notify you if we do so. You should not have to resubmit your complaint or accompanying documentation. However, you may be contacted if the other agency needs additional information.”

“If you cannot identify the federal regulator, contact the Federal Reserve Board, and we will forward your complaint to the appropriate agency.”

Who Regulates Your Bank?  It’s in the Title (Sometimes)

If any of the following is in the title of your bank, that’s a clue about where to file your complaint.

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.

Full Lender Regulator Chart
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 or the FTC
State-chartered Banks in the Federal Reserve System	The Federal Reserve Board and Your State Banking Office.
State-chartered Banks outside the Federal Reserve System	The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) and your State Banking Office.

Don’t Forget!

Tell the United States Congress and your State Representatives that you are filing a complaint against your lender.  This will alert them to your problem as well.