How to File a Complaint With the CFPB About a Bank or Lender

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is the federal agency that oversees consumer financial products. Its free complaint system sends your issue directly to the company, which is generally expected to respond.

What you can complain about

• Bank accounts and services, including fees and errors
• Credit cards and prepaid cards
• Mortgages and mortgage servicing
• Student, auto, personal and payday loans
• Credit reporting errors
• Debt collection practices
• Money transfers and payment apps

Before you file

Try to resolve the issue with the company first and keep records: dates, names, account numbers, letters, emails and statements. Your complaint will be stronger with documentation.

How to file

1. Go to consumerfinance.gov/complaint or call the CFPB.
2. Choose the product and describe what happened in clear, factual terms.
3. State what you think would be a fair resolution.
4. Upload supporting documents.

What happens next

The CFPB forwards your complaint to the company and you can track its status online. Companies typically respond within about 15 days, and you can tell the CFPB whether the response resolved your issue. Complaints also help regulators spot patterns that can lead to supervision and enforcement.

Other places to turn

Your state attorney general and state banking regulator also handle financial complaints. For bank-specific supervision issues, the OCC, FDIC or Federal Reserve may be the primary regulator.

The bottom line: a well-documented CFPB complaint is free, takes minutes and often gets results when customer service doesn't.

This guide is for general information only and is not financial advice. See our Disclaimer.