On August 14, 2026, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said it is ceasing publication of consumer complaint narratives and the related data visualizations in its Consumer Complaint Database. The bureau called that publication “entirely discretionary” and said the narratives are unverified and one-sided.

What changed

  • Complaint narratives in the public databasepublished → no longer published
  • Data visualizationspublished → no longer published
  • FromAugust 14, 2026
  • Still in placethe CFPB says it will keep collecting, monitoring and responding to complaints, and sharing them with other regulators
  • Earlier narrativesplaced in the CFPB’s FOIA Reading Room

Source: CFPB press release, August 14, 2026 · Checked on September 27, 2026

Why it matters

The written stories let anyone read how other customers described a problem with the same bank or app, such as a delayed wire or a stuck payment. The public database no longer shows them.

Filing a complaint still works. The CFPB says it continues to collect and respond to complaints, review whether companies give complete, accurate and timely responses, and share complaint information with prudential regulators, the FTC and other agencies. Narratives published before the change are in the FOIA Reading Room rather than the searchable database.

What to do

  • Go to your bank or app’s official support channel first and keep a written record: dates, amounts, confirmation numbers.
  • If that fails, you can still submit a complaint to the CFPB about a bank, credit union or payment app.
  • Write your complaint for the company and the regulator, not for the public: stick to facts, dates and what you are asking for.

For a stuck payment, see Zelle payment pending for the steps to take before escalating.