Banking

HelpWithMyBank.gov

HelpWithMyBank.gov provides answers and assistance to customers of national banks who want to file a complaint. Customer Assistance Specialists are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern, Monday – Friday, at 1-800-613-6743. The site includes answers to common questions on a variety of consumer topics and helps visitors contact the OCC for additional assistance. Listen to a radio PSA about HelpWithMyBank.gov.

Safe Internet Banking

Safe banking online involves making good choices – decisions that will help you avoid costly surprises or even scams. This information from the FDIC can help if you are considering online banking or already doing it.

Consumer Help from the Federal Reserve

This website provides answers and assistance to customers having problems with banks or other financial institutions. It assists consumers in filing complaints online by telling them what to provide and what to expect.  Consumers may email complaints to ConsumerHelp@FederalReserve.gov. The website also provides information about a variety of consumer topics.

Are My Deposits Insured?

Use this website to find out how FDIC deposit insurance works, estimate coverage on your deposits, and more.

Consumer Alerts from the FDIC 

These short alerts from the FDIC address hot topics; warn the public about fraudulent activity regarding misrepresentation of the FDIC, other agencies, banks, and organizations; and alert consumers about email, internet, phishing, loan, and other scams.

Writing a Check: Understanding your Rights

Electronic processing of checks is changing the way banks handle these transactions. Learn how these changes can affect how you handle your money.

Protecting Yourself from Overdraft and Bounced-Check Fees

This brochure provides information and guidance to consumers to help them avoid overdrafts, and make informed decisions regarding the purchase of courtesy overdraft-protection or bounce coverage plans.

Fakechecks.org

This website explains the most common types of fake check scams and how they work, and offers advice to consumers about how to avoid losing their money. It also provides a link to report fake check scams to NCL’s Fraud Center.

Fake Check Scams Facts

This fact sheet explains how fake check scams work, provides statistics about the scope of the problem, and offers tips for how consumers can avoid losing money to these scams. It can be used, with attribution to CFA, to educate consumers, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, as well as by the media. Excerpts may be quoted.

Fake Check Scam Ecard

This ecard was developed by CFA and NCL to educate consumers about fake check scams and how to avoid losing their money.

Text Messages from Your Bank? Sounds Phishy.

This FTC Consumer Alert offers warnings about email, text messages and other tactics scammers use to get bank account numbers and other personal information from consumers.

Avoiding Cashier’s Check Fraud

This OCC consumer advisory warns consumers to watch for fraudulent cashier’s check schemes and recommends actions they can take to protect themselves. Listen to a radio PSA about check fraud.

Learning Bank

This webpage is the FDIC educational source for students, teachers, and parents.

Banking and Your Money

Here, consumers will find tips for protecting bank accounts and your hard earned money from the FDIC.

FDIC Consumer News: Fall 2009

FDIC Consumer News is produced quarterly by the FDIC Office of Public Affairs and includes practical information for consumers.

OCC Customer Assistance Brochure

Assistance for Customers of National Banks is a brochure that explains the function of the OCC’s Customer Assistance Group and how to contact them.

Federal Reserve Education Website

This website provides information and resources about personal financial education, resources for teachers and information about the Federal Reserve.

EDIE The Estimator

EDIE the Estimator can calculate your FDIC insurance coverage for each FDIC-insured bank where you have deposit accounts.  EDIE lets you know in a printable report for each bank whether your deposits are within or exceed coverage limits.

Check 21

As of Oct. 28, 2004, banks can send digital images of checks electronically to complete the clearing process instead of shipping paper checks from bank to bank. Visit the OCC website to learn more about how Check 21 affects you.

Fake Check Scams Ready-to-Use News Article

This article can be used, with attribution to CFA, to educate consumers about how fake check scams work and how to avoid losing their money.