Banking and credit complaints span several genuinely different bodies depending on what actually went wrong — a regulator that sets and enforces standards is not the same as an ombudsman or complaint portal, which is not the same as verifying a specific institution or credit bureau. This directory keeps those apart deliberately: the same organization sometimes appears in more than one section below because it serves a different purpose each time, not because of a duplicate.
Ready to complain in writing? Draft a formal dispute letter with our free letter generator.
Section 1 · Banking Regulators & Consumer Authorities
Who sets and enforces banking and financial-services standards — the general oversight bodies, not a specific complaint route (Section 3) or institution-verification tool (Section 2).
Federal consumer financial regulator (US)
What: The US federal agency that writes and enforces consumer financial protection rules — banking, credit, debt collection, and more. The complaint-filing function specifically is covered separately in Section 3.
When to use: As the general starting point for US consumer financial protection questions and rules.
Bank regulator and deposit insurer (US)
What: Regulates and supervises thousands of US banks and insures deposits. Also appears in Section 9 for its deposit-insurance function specifically — that's intentional, not a duplicate.
When to use: As a general regulatory reference for a bank supervised by the FDIC, separate from checking deposit coverage (Section 9) or verifying an institution (Section 2).
National bank regulator (US)
What: The federal regulator of national banks and federal savings associations in the US — distinct from the FDIC's broader deposit-insurance role and from state-level bank regulators.
When to use: When your bank is specifically a nationally chartered bank, and you need the regulator with direct supervisory authority over it.
Financial conduct regulator (UK)
What: Regulates how UK financial firms conduct business and treat customers. The firm-verification register specifically is covered in Section 2.
When to use: As the general starting point for UK financial conduct and consumer-protection rules.
Prudential regulator (UK)
What: Part of the Bank of England — regulates the financial soundness (capital, safety) of UK banks, building societies, insurers, and major investment firms, separately from the FCA's conduct-focused role.
When to use: For questions about a UK financial institution's prudential (safety and soundness) regulation specifically, rather than conduct or customer treatment.
Banking regulator (EU-wide)
What: The EU-wide authority that develops common banking standards and rules across member states. Day-to-day supervision of individual banks still sits with each country's national regulator (e.g. Banco de España, Germany's BaFin) — the EBA does not directly handle individual consumer complaints.
When to use: As the EU-level reference for banking standards, before going to your specific national regulator for anything individual.
Corporate and financial services regulator (Australia)
What: Regulates companies, financial services, and consumer credit conduct in Australia — including administering the ePayments Code and the National Credit Code (Section 10). Institution/register lookups are covered separately in Section 2.
When to use: As the general starting point for Australian financial-services conduct and consumer-credit regulation questions.
Prudential regulator (Australia)
What: Regulates the financial soundness of Australian banks, credit unions, building societies, insurers, and super funds — the safety/solvency counterpart to ASIC's conduct focus. Also administers the Financial Claims Scheme (Section 9).
When to use: For questions about an Australian institution's prudential regulation, distinct from conduct issues (ASIC) or a specific complaint (Section 3).
Section 2 · Banks & Financial Institution Verification
Check whether a specific bank or financial institution is genuinely licensed, regulated, or insured — not the general regulator (Section 1) or a complaint route (Section 3). Payment institution and electronic money institution registers live here, not in Section 8, which cross-references this section instead.
Verify a bank is FDIC-insured (US)
What: Official FDIC tool to look up any US bank and confirm its FDIC-insured status, charter details, and regulator.
When to use: Before opening an account, or any time you want to independently confirm a bank is genuinely FDIC-insured.
Verify a credit union is NCUA-insured (US)
What: Official National Credit Union Administration tool to search and confirm a specific credit union's federal insurance status and charter details.
When to use: Before opening a credit union account, to confirm it's genuinely NCUA-insured rather than assuming from marketing alone.
Check if a financial firm is legally allowed to operate in the UK
What: One register covering banks, payment institutions, electronic money institutions, and investment firms authorized and regulated by the FCA — payment and e-money institution verification is included here, not listed separately in Section 8.
When to use: Before sending money to any bank, payment app, e-money provider, investment platform, or financial adviser. If they are not on this register, do not use them.
Want to know more? Read our full guide →Institution verification in the EU (fragmented by member state)
What: There is no single EU-wide public register for verifying an individual bank, payment institution, or e-money institution — authorization and verification are handled by each member state's own national regulator (e.g. Banco de España, Germany's BaFin), consistent with how EU-wide fragmentation is noted elsewhere on this site.
When to use: Check with the national regulator of the specific country where the institution is licensed, rather than expecting a single central EU lookup.
Search company and financial-services registers (Australia)
What: Search ASIC's company, business name, and professional/licence registers to confirm an Australian financial institution or adviser is genuinely registered.
When to use: Before dealing with an Australian financial firm, to independently confirm its registration or licence status.
Section 3 · Banking Complaints & Disputes
How to actually file a complaint about your specific issue — distinct from the general regulator (Section 1) and from institution verification (Section 2). Same principle as the Aviation Authorities vs. Flight Delays & Cancellations split in the Flights & Travel block — these two sections are kept separate deliberately, not merged.
File an official complaint against a US bank or credit card company
What: When you submit a complaint, banks are legally required to respond formally within 15 days. The CFPB can order refunds and take enforcement action.
When to use: If your US bank refuses to process a chargeback for fraud, applies hidden fees, or violates consumer protection law.
Want to know more? Read our full guide →Report unfair overdraft fees (US)
What: The same federal complaint portal, specifically for overdraft fees charged without proper Regulation E opt-in consent.
When to use: If your bank charged an overdraft fee on a debit card or ATM transaction and you never opted in to overdraft coverage.
Want to know more? Read our full guide →Resolve a dispute with a UK bank or insurer for free
What: Free, independent UK service that resolves disputes between consumers and financial firms. Decisions are legally binding.
When to use: After complaining directly to your bank and receiving no resolution or a final response you disagree with. You must give the bank 8 weeks to respond first.
Want to know more? Read our full guide →Australian Banking Dispute & Fraud Resources
What: The official Australian pathways for banking, insurance and super disputes and fraud — the free AFCA ombudsman, ASIC's ePayments Code and financial-firm reporting, and the ACCC's National Anti-Scam Centre (Scamwatch, also listed separately in Section 4).
When to use: Use this when a bank, insurer, or super fund won't resolve a dispute directly, when you've had an unauthorised transaction or a scam-related loss, or when a merchant chargeback needs escalating beyond the card scheme.
Official pathways:
ASIC — ePayments Code →
Scamwatch / ACCC National Anti-Scam Centre →
ASIC — Report a Financial Firm →
EU Banking Dispute & Payment Fraud Resources
What: The official EU pathways for banking complaints and payment-fraud disputes — the free FIN-NET network connecting national financial ombudsmen across borders, national supervisors (Banco de España, Germany's BaFin) for the internal-complaint stage, and the European Payments Council rulebooks that govern SEPA transfers and recalls.
When to use: Use this for bank complaints, cross-border escalation via FIN-NET, SEPA transfer errors, or unauthorised transaction disputes under PSD2.
Official pathways:
FIN-NET — Cross-Border Financial Dispute Network →
Banco de España — Complaints →
BaFin (Germany) — Complaints →
European Payments Council — SCT/SCT Inst Rulebooks →
Related Kibbo tool: Document a financial complaint end to end with our Financial Complaint & Escalation Evidence Log template →
Section 4 · Fraud, Scams & Unauthorized Transactions
Where to report fraud, scams, and unauthorized transactions — distinct from a standard billing/service dispute (Sections 3 and 5).
Report a fraud or scam to the US federal government
What: Official US government portal to report fraud, scams and bad business practices. Used by law enforcement to identify patterns and prosecute.
When to use: Any consumer fraud in the US — fake products, subscription traps, identity theft, or impersonation scams.
Want to know more? Read our full guide →Report internet-enabled financial crime (US)
What: The FBI's official portal for reporting internet-enabled crime, including online banking fraud, business email compromise, and payment scams — complements the FTC's broader consumer-fraud role with a specifically law-enforcement/investigative angle.
When to use: For online financial fraud specifically, alongside (not instead of) reporting to your bank and the FTC.
Report financial fraud or a scam to UK police
What: The UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. Reports go to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.
When to use: When you've been a victim of financial fraud, scam calls, or online fraud. Keep your crime reference number for insurance and bank dispute purposes.
Want to know more? Read our full guide →Report a scam (Australia)
What: The official Australian government portal for reporting scams, including financial and banking-related scams — feeds national scam-pattern data used to warn and protect other consumers.
When to use: To report a scam directly, as a distinct step from disputing the transaction with your bank (Section 3) or an unauthorised charge (ePayments Code).
Cross-border scam and payment-fraud support (EU)
What: The EU-wide network of national consumer centres that helps with cross-border scams and payment-fraud disputes involving a trader in another member state — a general reporting/escalation resource, not a bank-specific one (see FIN-NET in Section 3 for bank-specific EU escalation).
When to use: For a cross-border financial scam involving a business in another EU country, where your own national authority alone isn't the right fit.
Related Kibbo tool: Run through our free Unauthorized Transaction & Banking Fraud Checklist → the moment you spot something wrong.
Section 5 · Credit Cards & Chargebacks
Resources at the card-network level (Visa/Mastercard/Amex) — the actual dispute is filed with your card-issuing bank, not the network directly, but these pages explain the underlying rules your bank applies.
Visa — Zero Liability & dispute rights
What: Visa's network-level cardholder protection policy against unauthorized transactions. The actual dispute is filed with your card-issuing bank, not Visa directly.
Mastercard — Zero Liability protection
What: Mastercard's network-level cardholder protection policy against unauthorized transactions. As with Visa, the actual dispute is filed with your card-issuing bank.
American Express — dispute a charge
What: Unlike Visa and Mastercard, American Express is typically both the network and the issuer, so this page doubles as the actual dispute-filing guidance, not just a network policy reference.
Related Kibbo tool: Run through our free Chargeback & Card Dispute Checklist → before you file.
Section 6 · Loans, Credit & Debt
Borrowing, debt collection, and credit-agreement resources. Credit reporting agencies are covered exclusively in Section 7, not repeated here.
Debt collection rights and resources (US)
What: Official CFPB guidance on your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) — what a collector can and can't do, and how to respond.
When to use: Before responding to any debt collector, to understand your baseline rights.
Stop debt collector harassment (FDCPA)
What: Official portal to file a federal complaint against a debt collection agency violating the FDCPA — excessive calls, calling outside legal hours, or contacting your employer.
When to use: If a third-party debt collector (not your original bank/lender) is harassing you or violating your rights under the FDCPA.
Want to know more? Read our full guide → Generate your cease-and-desist letter →Consumer credit resources (UK)
What: FCA regulatory information covering consumer credit firms and the rules that apply to loans and credit agreements in the UK.
When to use: To understand what standard a UK lender or credit firm is held to.
Free debt advice (Australia)
What: Free, independent financial counselling service for anyone struggling with debt in Australia — not a government regulator, but the standard first stop for practical help.
When to use: If you're struggling to keep up with loan or credit repayments and want free, independent guidance before things escalate.
Related Kibbo tools: Compare loan offers with our Loan & Credit Agreement Review Workbook →
Section 7 · Credit Reports & Credit Scores
The credit reporting agencies/bureaus themselves, and how to get your report — kept exclusively here, not repeated in Section 6.
Equifax (US)
What: One of the three major US credit reporting agencies.
When to use: To access your Equifax credit report or dispute an error on it specifically.
Experian (US)
What: One of the three major US credit reporting agencies.
When to use: To access your Experian credit report or dispute an error on it specifically.
TransUnion (US)
What: One of the three major US credit reporting agencies.
When to use: To access your TransUnion credit report or dispute an error on it specifically.
Get your free US credit report from all three bureaus
What: The only website authorized to fill orders for free credit reports from all three nationwide US credit bureaus, now available weekly on a permanent basis.
When to use: As your first stop for a free US credit report — be wary of other sites claiming to offer "free" reports that aren't this one.
Dispute an error on your US credit report
What: Official CFPB guidance on disputing inaccurate items with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Bureaus must investigate within 30 days (45 in some cases).
When to use: If you find an account, late payment, or balance on your credit report that isn't accurate.
Want to know more? Read our full guide → Generate your dispute letter →Get your free credit report in the UK
What: All three UK credit reference agencies offer a free statutory credit report showing your full credit history and any errors or fraudulent applications.
When to use: Annually as standard, and immediately if you suspect identity theft or see an unexplained credit application on your file.
Want to know more? Read our full guide →Equifax (Australia)
What: One of the two remaining independent major Australian credit reporting bodies.
When to use: To request your free Equifax credit report (available once every 3 months, or immediately after a declined application or a correction request).
Experian, including illion (Australia)
What: Australia had three credit reporting bodies — Equifax, Experian, and illion — but Experian acquired illion in 2024, and illion's consumer credit-reporting function has since been consolidated into Experian. Checking Experian now effectively covers what illion previously reported separately; illion's own site (illion.com.au — credit reporting policy →) still documents the legacy policy.
When to use: To request your free Experian (and former-illion) credit report, alongside Equifax, for the fullest picture of your Australian credit file.
Related Kibbo tool: Run through our free Credit Report Error Checklist → before you file a dispute.
Section 8 · Payments & Money Transfers
For verifying a payment or e-money institution's registration, see Section 2 — payment institution and electronic money institution registers are not repeated here.
Your rights sending money internationally (US)
What: Official CFPB explanation of your rights when sending an international money transfer of more than $15 through a US-based provider — required fee/exchange-rate disclosures, a short cancellation window, and error-resolution rights.
When to use: Before or after an international money transfer from the US, to understand what disclosures and protections should have applied.
Related Kibbo tool: Track transfer fees, exchange rates, and delays with our Money Transfer & Payment Dispute Tracker →
Section 9 · Savings, Deposits & Financial Protection
Deposit insurance and protection schemes — a specific function of the regulators already listed in Section 1, kept separate here deliberately since it's a distinct, specific question (how much of my money is protected) rather than general oversight.
Deposit insurance (US)
What: Official explanation of how FDIC deposit insurance works — coverage limits and ownership categories. Same body as Section 1's general regulator listing, different specific function.
When to use: To understand the rules behind your deposit coverage before calculating it yourself with the EDIE tool below.
Want to know more? Read our full guide →Check your deposit insurance coverage (FDIC/NCUA)
What: Official FDIC tool to calculate exactly how much of your money is insured across ownership categories (single, joint, trust, retirement) at a specific bank.
When to use: Before keeping a large balance at one bank, or after opening a joint, trust, or retirement account, to confirm you're actually covered.
Run the full checklist →Deposit protection (UK)
What: The UK's statutory deposit and financial-protection scheme, covering eligible deposits up to £85,000 per person per institution if a bank, building society, or credit union fails.
When to use: To confirm your bank is covered and check your protection limit, especially across multiple accounts or joint accounts.
Deposit protection in the EU (fragmented by member state)
What: There is no single EU-wide deposit guarantee fund — each member state runs its own national Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS), harmonized to a minimum coverage level of €100,000 per depositor per bank under EU law, but administered nationally.
When to use: Check with the national deposit guarantee scheme of the country where your bank is actually licensed, rather than expecting a single central EU fund.
Deposit protection (Australia)
What: APRA-administered scheme protecting deposits up to $250,000 per account holder per institution at an authorised deposit-taking institution, if that institution fails.
When to use: To confirm your bank, credit union, or building society is covered and check your protection limit.
Section 10 · Financial Laws & Official Guidance
The core legal text and official guidance underlying the sections above — distinct from the regulators and bodies themselves.
Truth in Lending Act / Regulation Z (US)
What: The federal regulation implementing the Truth in Lending Act — the disclosure requirements (APR, total cost) that apply to consumer credit, including credit cards and loans.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (US)
What: The official FTC-maintained text of the federal law governing credit reporting agencies, credit report accuracy, and your dispute rights.
Consumer Credit Act 1974 (UK)
What: The UK's core consumer credit legislation — licensing, credit agreement content requirements, and consumer protections including Section 75 joint-liability claims.
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (UK)
What: The primary UK legislation establishing the FCA and PRA and the regulatory framework for financial services and markets.
Payment Services Directive (PSD2) (EU)
What: The official EU legal text governing payment services — Strong Customer Authentication, the €50 liability cap, and Open Banking. Referenced elsewhere on this site as PSD2; PSD3 is a proposed successor still in the legislative process, not yet in force.
National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Australia)
What: Australia's national consumer credit law, including the National Credit Code — responsible-lending obligations, licensing, and the requirement that credit licensees belong to an external dispute resolution scheme (AFCA).