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How to file a complaint against a bank / lender / credit card

Fees, fraud handling, mortgage servicing, account closures, or loan disputes. Here is exactly which regulator has jurisdiction, where to file, and what to say.

The right regulator(s), in order

federal

CFPB — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The CFPB forwards your complaint to the bank, which must respond — usually within 15 days. This is the strongest free lever for any consumer-finance problem.
Open the complaint portal →
  • Your full name, address, phone and email
  • The exact legal name and address of the business/agency you are complaining about
  • Any account, policy, claim, case, loan or reference number
  • What happened, in order
  • The dollar amount and dates
  • The specific outcome you are asking for
  • Copies of statements and any responses from the bank
federal

OCC — HelpWithMyBank (national banks)

Use the OCC if the bank is nationally chartered (name ends in 'N.A.' or 'National Association'). For state-chartered banks, use the CFPB plus your state regulator below.
Open the complaint portal →
  • Your full name, address, phone and email
  • The exact legal name and address of the business/agency you are complaining about
  • Any account, policy, claim, case, loan or reference number
  • The dates of what happened (in order)
  • The specific outcome you are asking for
state

Your State Banking / Financial Regulator

Your state banking/financial regulator covers STATE-chartered banks and credit unions and local lenders the federal agencies don't reach.
Open the complaint portal →
State/local office — opens the official directory; pick your state, then your office. (Verify the link is current.)
  • Your full name, address, phone and email
  • The exact legal name and address of the business/agency you are complaining about
  • The dates of what happened (in order)
  • Copies of contracts, statements, photos, emails, and letters (keep originals)
  • The specific outcome you are asking for
  • Any prior attempts you made to resolve it directly
If the dispute is about a debt or your credit report, the debt-validation / FCRA dispute-letter tool targets it directly. Open →

What to include in your complaint

Draft my complaint now →

FAQ

Does filing a complaint get me my money back?
A regulator complaint pressures the company to fix it and creates an enforcement record, but it does not award you damages. For a specific dollar amount, small-claims court is usually faster. For injury or large losses, talk to an attorney.
Will they know I complained?
Most consumer complaints are shared with the company so it can respond. Some (e.g., OSHA, wage) let you stay confidential — we note that on each agency.
How long does it take?
Many agencies require the company to respond within 15–60 days. Keep your case number and the dates.
Complaint-routing & drafting information — not legal advice or representation. This is a self-help tool that points you to the regulator with jurisdiction and drafts a complaint for you to review and file. It is not a law firm, and using it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Which agency applies can depend on facts we don't see (the company's charter, your state, the exact conduct). Government portal links — especially state-level ones — can change; we show the official directory as a fallback and the date each was checked (2026-06-25). Some situations are legal claims for money or injury, not regulator complaints — we flag those and you should consult a licensed attorney in your state.