Consumer Information

The Department of Financial Institutions provides strong support to consumers through its education, outreach and consumer services programs. 

Consumer Education and Outreach

In this section of the DFI Web site, consumers will find Information and resources on a variety of financial topics. Our consumer education publications and other materials are designed to educate consumers about the financial industry, products and services. The practical guidance helps consumers become more informed and safer users of financial services. You will also find helpful hints, quick tips, and common-sense strategies to help you protect and stretch your hard-earned dollars and plan your financial future. You might also be interested in visiting the California Financial Literacy Month (CAFLM) section of the DFI Web site. April has been designated California Financial Literacy Month (CAFLM) to highlight the importance of financial literacy and economic empowerment and to encourage all Californians to increase their understanding of saving, investing and credit choices. On this site, you will find resources including financial education programs for all ages, financial links for kids, newsletters to keep you informed, and tools to help you participate in California Financial Literacy Month.

Consumer Services

In this section of the DFI website, consumers will find important information about communicating with financial institutions to address questions and resolve disputes.  There are many regulatory agencies supervising the financial industry.  A key DFI consumer service is to facilitate communication between the consumers and the financial institutions.  This service assists in determining the regulator responsible for a specific institution and provides instructions for how to contact the regulator for assistance.  For financial institutions regulated by DFI, the Consumer Services program also responds directly to consumer queries and manages a consumer complaint program.  Additionally, there is an FAQ section for sharing responses to frequently asked consumer questions.

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