To escalate a bank complaint, first exhaust direct, documented, in-branch or phone customer service, including escalating to a manager. If unresolved, file a formal complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), or identify the specific regulator—such as the FDIC or Federal Reserve—via the HelpWithMyBank.gov tool.
File banking and credit complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Try contacting your bank directly first. If that 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.
Complaints about banks and lenders chartered in California may be filed with the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI).
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is an independent bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The OCC charters, regulates, and supervises all national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks.
How to file a Complaint
10 Most Common Bank Customer Complaints
The FDIC's Division of Depositor and Consumer Protection (DCP) is responsible for enforcing federal consumer protection laws and regulations at state-chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System.
With a few caveats, the general answer is yes, you may sue your bank for negligence. You may also sue a bank for incompetence, which is a form of negligence.
The OCC charters, regulates, and supervises all national banks and federal savings associations as well as federal branches and agencies of foreign banks. The OCC is an independent bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
You can submit your complaint or inquiry online at the FDIC Information and Support Center at https://ask.fdic.gov/fdicinformationandsupportcenter/s/.
The bank or building society must investigate your complaint and give you a clear answer within eight weeks. They may send you: an initial response. This gives you the chance to go back to the company if you are not satisfied with their answer.
Information To Include in Your Letter
An effective complaints process should:
A dispute is a disagreement between the card/account holder and the merchant with respect to a transaction. Disputable charges include double billings and charges to your account that belong to another account. Non-disputable charges include sales tax and shipping.
Following are examples of common types of complaint allegations within each category.
Common types of bank negligence include:
Security failures and data breaches. Wire transfer errors. Fraud. Failure to release funds.
The four essential elements of a negligence claim are Duty, Breach, Causation, and Damages, meaning the defendant owed a legal duty of care to the plaintiff, breached that duty by failing to act reasonably, that breach directly caused the plaintiff's injury (both in fact and proximately), and the plaintiff suffered actual harm or loss (damages)**. A plaintiff must prove all four elements to succeed in a personal injury lawsuit based on negligence.
Funds may be withheld temporarily if a court order or investigation is involved. Contact the bank right away after an account closure to settle your balance.
APRA oversees banks, credit unions, building societies, general insurance and reinsurance companies, life insurers, private health insurers, friendly societies, and a large part of the superannuation industry.
If not satisfied write to the Controlling Office. If you still feel aggrieved write to the Nodal Officer for complaints of the concerned bank. If the Nodal Officer cannot redress your complaints and you still feel aggrieved approach Banking Ombudsman for a satisfactory resolution of the matter.
Yes, CFPB complaints are generally taken seriously because companies must respond, often within 15 days, and the complaints create a public record that can influence enforcement, policy, and company behavior, though the level of individual case resolution can vary depending on resources and administration focus. While the CFPB doesn't guarantee a specific outcome, involvement from a federal agency usually prompts action from financial companies to resolve issues to avoid further scrutiny.
The types of complaints you can file with the FCC include: