|
|
| Alabama - State Banking Department |
Purpose
The purpose of the Alabama state banking department is to supervise state-chartered financial institutions.
Use the attached link to access the official website of the Alabama state banking department.
http://www.bank.state.al.us/law.htm
Contact and Location Information
Center for Commerce Suite 680
401 Adams Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1201
Telephone (334) 242-3452
Main FAX (334) 242-3500
Bureau of Loans FAX (334) 353-5961
Rules, Regulations and Policies
In general the states regulations are subdivided in to banking and loan regulations.
The following link will take you to the states’ banking rules and regulations that the state banking department is responsible for enforcing.
http://www.bank.state.al.us/regulations.htm
Banking Laws
There are many laws banks have to uphold. The following link will take you to the Alabama laws that are in effect.
http://www.bank.state.al.us/law.htm
Laws include…
- Small Loan Act
- Consumer credit Act
- Pawnshop Act
- Mortgage broker licensing act
- Deferred Presentment services act
Complaints
Use the attached like to and follow the instructions to file a complaint against a mortgage broker, check casher, finance company or pawn shop.
http://www.bank.state.al.us/consumerservices.htm
Banking - Directories
Banking departments generally have directories or listings of the financial institutions of which they supervise. Contact the Alabama state banking department for current listings.
Identity Theft
When it comes to identity theft, the old adage applies, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The following are useful tips and information for consumers to avoid identity theft:
- Be careful about giving out your personal information. Don’t give out any personal information over the phone unless you initiate the call;
- Pay attention to your billing cycles. If you don’t get your bills in the mail, be suspicious;
- Be cautious about where you leave your information. Think of your bills as cash, don’t leave them lying around;
- Guard your mail from theft. Be vigilant about checking your mail promptly after it has been delivered. Don’t let it pile up while you are away;
- Watch what you throw away. What may be garbage to you can be stolen treasure to an identity thief;
- Travel light. Don’t carry more checks or credit cards than you need. That will minimize the damage if your wallet is lost or stolen; and
- Check your credit report on a regular basis. Order a copy of your credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies at least once a year and make sure that the information they have is correct.
- The agencies are:
- Experian 1-800-397-3742
- Equifax 1-800-525-6285
- Trans Union 1-800-680-7289
If a consumer is a victim of Identity theft, he/she should:
- Contact creditors by phone and by certified mail;
- Stop payment on checks and close bank accounts;
- Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles and your local postal inspector;
- File a report with your local police department; and
- Call the FTC’s fraud hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT.
|
|
|
|
