CONSUMERS: Resources

In addition to this web site, a wealth of consumer oriented banking and financial information is available on the Internet. Many of the resources and links provided here can help you take control of your finances, find in-depth information about financial institutions, determine which institution meets your financial needs, and become more familiar with the US financial system.

The West Virginia Office of the Attorney General is responsible for enforcing the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, the West Virginia Antitrust Act, and the Preneed Funeral Contracts Act.

The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) provides support on issues involving consumer fraud, debt collection, consumer finance law, energy assistance programs, and sustainable homeownership programs.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) attempts to balance the sometimes differing goals of consumer protection and maintaining a competitive marketplace.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was created in 1933 to provide insurance protection for depositors if their bank fails. Included on this site is an electronic deposit insurance estimator (find out if your bank deposits are fully insured).

The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. The Federal Reserve Board of Governors has broad monetary, supervisory, and consumer protection responsibilities.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) charters, regulates, and supervises national banks.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is an independent federal agency that supervises and insures federal credit unions and insures state-chartered credit unions.

The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) is the primary regulator of all federal and many state-chartered thrift institutions, which include savings banks and savings and loan associations.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent, nonpartisan, quasijudicial regulatory agency with responsibility for administering federal securities laws to protect investors in securities markets that operate fairly and to ensure that investors have access to disclosure of all material information concerning publicly traded securities. The Commission also regulates firms engaged in the purchase or sale of securities, people who provide investment advice, and investment companies.

OCC (regulates banks with national in the name or N.A. after the name)
E-mail:customer.assistance@occ.treas.gov
Compliance Management
250 E Street, S.W., Mail Stop 7-7
Washington, DC 20219
(202) 874-4820

FDIC (regulates state chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System)
Office of Consumer Affairs
550 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20456
(202) 898-3536 or 1 (800) 934-3342

FRS (regulates state chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System)
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Division of Consumer and Community Affairs
20^th and C Streets, N.W., Stop 198
Washington, DC 20551
(202) 452-3693

OTS (regulates federal savings and loans and federal thrift banks)
Division of Consumer and Civil Rights
Office of Community Investment
1700 G Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20552
(202) 906-6237 or 1 (800) 842-6929

NCUA (regulates federally chartered credit unions)
Office of Public and Congressional Affairs
1775 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3428
(703) 518-6330

FTC (regulates finance companies, stores, auto dealers, mortgage companies, and credit bureaus)
668 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
(216)522-4210

Want to know about your local institutions’ efforts to invest in the community where you live? The information you seek is available here:

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) provides a comprehensive source of information regarding the Community Reinvestment Act as well as an Interagency Search for public CRA ratings.

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee

The U.S. House of Representatives Banking Committee

The mission of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is to provide a decent, safe, and sanitary home and suitable living environment for every American. This site contains lots of information and includes consumer and consumer complaint resources.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), established in 1953, provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses.

The U.S. Business Advisor exists to provide business with one-stop access to federal government information, services, and transactions. This goal of this site is to make the relationship between business and government more productive.

The Bureau of the Public Debt provides a substantial volume of information related to United States Savings Bonds, the total public debt, and U.S. Treasury auctions.

Kiplinger.com provides a wealth of personal financial information and services.

Bloomberg.com also provides a great deal of personal financial news and services as well as financial resources for business concerns.