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| Vermont - Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration - Banking Division |
The Banking Division is a division of Department of Banking, Insurance
Securities & Health Care Administration and provides assistance to Vermont consumers who request information about financial services or who have problems with a particular institution.
The proper place to get help depends on who regulates your bank or financial institution. Vermont has regulatory authority over Vermont state-chartered financial institutions and licensed lenders. These may include banks, savings and loan companies, credit unions, mortgage brokers and other individuals or companies called "licensed lenders." If your problem or complaint involves an entity under Vermont's authority, or you need help contacting banking regulators in another state, you can contact the consumer services unit of the Vermont Banking Division for assistance. Please also see below for further details about making a complaint.
Use the attached link to access current information on the Banking Division.
http://www.bishca.state.vt.us/BankingDiv/banking_index.htm
Contact and Location Information
89 Main St Drawer 20
Montpelier, VT 05620-3101
Phone 802.828.3307
Complaints
To file a complaint, you need to include the following information:
- Your name and address, with zip code
- Home and office telephone numbers
- E-mail address, if e-mailing
- The name and address of the institution involved
- Account number, if applicable
- Copies of pertinent documents (do not send originals)
- A short statement concerning the nature of your complaint
- The dollar amounts involved
- The date of the transaction
- Indicate whether you have already complained to the institution involved, and if so, the nature of their response.
- Indicate whether this matter been submitted to another agency or attorney to handle. If so, please identify.
- Indicate whether there is a court action pending.
If you make an inquiry by e-mail, please provide your complete street address and e-mail address. We will not process anonymous complaints. To resolve your complaint, they may need additional written documentation. Please bear in mind that sensitive information such as bank account numbers generally should not be conveyed by e-mail. To provide such personal financial information, you should call or write through the US mail.
Use the following link to access more information on filing a complaint.
http://www.bishca.state.vt.us/BankingDiv/consuassistindex.html
Banking Regulations
The Division of Banking is responsible for overseeing state chartered financial institutions and for enforcing applicable regulations. Use the following link to access current information on the regulations.
http://www.bishca.state.vt.us/RegsBulls/bnkregs/bankregindex.htm
Entities Regulated
The Vermont Division of Banking is responsible for regulating the following Vermont state-chartered financial institutions and licensed lenders.
- Banks
- savings and loan companies
- credit unions
- mortgage brokers and
- other individuals or companies called "licensed lenders."
To find out if an entity is regulated by the Vermont Division of Banking and that the lender actually has a license to do business in Vermont call the Banking Division at 802-828-3307.
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.
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