How to File a Complaint Against a Bank

Your bank cannot employ discriminatory practices in lending.

If you feel your bank has discriminated against you in its lending practices due to your gender or race, or has provided you with misleading information or possibly broken a federal law, you can file a complaint with the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve then forwards the complain to a federal regulator.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Name and address of bank
• Names of bank employees you dealt with
• Dates specific to your complaint
• Detailed description of complaint

1. Determine whether the Federal Reserve can take your complaint. According to its website the Fed cannot resolve issues about bank policies or service that does not break any federal laws nor can they investigate contract disputes that would be better handled by an attorney.

2. Check the Federal Reserve Consumer Help website to learn what a bank can legally do before filing a complaint. For example, there is no law requiring that a bank cash your check .

3. Attempt to work with the bank yourself to settle the issue before contacting the Federal Reserve.

4. Try to contact the federal regulator yourself. If you already know, through bank documents, who regulates the bank with which you have an issue, you will save time by contacting the regulator directly.

5. Compile all information you will need to file your complaint as listed in the Things You'll Need.

6. Fax your complaint to 877-888-2520 or mail it to the address listed on the Federal Reserve Consumer Help website.

Tips & Warnings

• The Federal Reserve will review your complaint within 15 days.

• Do not include original documents with your complaint. If documents are required, send copies.

References

• Federal Reserve Consumer Help: What do I do once I am ready to file a complaint?
• Federal Reserve Consumer Help: What do I need to do before I file a complaint?
• Federal Reserve Consumer Help: "Can a bank really..."