What you need to know if you were harmed by Wells Fargo

If you were one of the thousands of people who incurred fees as a result of an unauthorized Wells Fargo account, the CFPB has ordered Wells Fargo to refund all of your money. Some payments have already been made; others will be sent in the coming months.

Customers of Wells Fargo or any other bank or credit union should always closely monitor their accounts to make sure they don’t see unauthorized products or account activity. If you suspect that you had an unauthorized account opened, you should visit your local bank branch or call your financial institution. If you’re still having an issue, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB, either online or by calling toll-free (855) 411-2372.

The CFPB is requiring Wells Fargo to provide full refunds to consumers for the fees they incurred as a result of the bank’s illegal conduct, and affected customers are not required to take action to get a full refund.  

The historic $100 million fine we imposed on Wells Fargo is in addition to the money the bank must pay back to harmed consumers. There were also fines from other government agencies. The CFPB’s large fine reflects the seriousness of these violations and sends the message to the bank and other financial institutions that this type of misconduct carries serious consequences. 

It is also a good idea to periodically check your credit report. Get a free copy of your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com . You can receive a free credit report from each nationwide credit reporting company once every 12 months.