Blog | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Policy and compliance

Published NOV 01, 2023

Servicemembers continue to face major financial challenges

The CFPB works to protect servicemembers in the financial market, engage military stakeholders, and monitor the market to identify risks to servicemembers, veterans, and military families.

By Tom Feltner and Wen Liu

Info for consumers

Published APR 27, 2023

Credit reporting companies should do more to ensure that servicemembers receive the free credit monitoring services they are legally entitled to

Active duty and National guard members are entitled to free electronic credit monitoring.

Info for consumers Policy and compliance

Published FEB 15, 2023

WARNO: They call themselves “coaches” or “consultants” and advertise their ability to assist you with your VA benefits claim but may not be accredited to practice before the VA

Seeking help from a VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or VSO representative can ensure you receive assistance throughout the claims process with VA and avoid excessive fees.

By Joshua Friedman and Krystle Good

Servicemembers

At the CFPB

Published NOV 22, 2022

Protecting the right of military families to go to court

The CFPB recently filed an amicus brief to ensure military families are able to sue creditors that violate the Military Lending Act.

By Seth Frotman and Jim Rice

Policy and compliance

Published JUL 25, 2022

Time is running out for student loan servicers to help servicemembers with student loans get debt relief

Student loan servicers with military borrowers should act quickly to identify and notify military borrowers about the PSLF Limited Waiver before October 31, 2022.

By Anthony Camilli

Info for consumers

Published JUL 18, 2022

Protecting servicemembers from costly auto loans and wrongful repossessions

Servicemembers face unique challenges in the financial marketplace. The CFPB is working to protect servicemembers and military families from costly auto loans and wrongful repossessions.

By Patrick Brick, Ryan Kelly, and Chris Kukla

Info for consumers

Published JUN 02, 2022

Protecting servicemembers from abuses of the military allotment system

Servicemembers should guard against predatory lenders outside military bases, including those that require them to use the allotment system to repay loans.

By Patrick Brick

Info for consumers

Published FEB 07, 2022

New VA rule relieves financial distress for thousands of veterans with medical bills

Getting sick or injured can often result in a heavy financial burden, including mounting medical bills, aggressive debt collection and coercive credit reporting. Learn about the VA’s new rule to put patients first and how to protect against surprise medical bills.

By Jim Rice

At the CFPB

Published JAN 07, 2022

Protecting servicemembers from predatory lending

This week CFPB partnered with other agencies to ensure that American servicemembers enjoy the full protections of the Military Lending Act.

By Seth Frotman and Jim Rice

Info for consumers

Published JUL 14, 2021

Consumer Fraud Alert - Tips for avoiding VA home loan scams

A joint fraud advisory from the CFPB and VA on how to avoid common VA home loan scams.

By Patrick Brick, Carolyn Hahn, and Alberto Planas

Info for consumers

Published JUL 06, 2021

Should you buy now and pay later?

Learn how Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) products work, and important details to help you decide whether or not to use them for purchases.

By Nelson Akeredolu, Andrew Braden, Joshua Friedman, and Laura Udis

Info for consumers

Published JUN 30, 2021

Dedicating July to military consumer protection

July is Military Consumer Month, and we are partnering with the FTC and DoD throughout the month to spotlight key financial issues impacting the military community.

By Jim Rice

Data, research, and reports

Published MAY 06, 2021

The Office of Servicemember Affairs year in review: Working together to protect servicemembers, veterans, and military families

Today, we’re releasing our eighth annual report highlighting the activities of the Office of Servicemember Affairs as well as complaints and emerging issues facing the military community in the financial marketplace.

By Jim Rice

Servicemembers

Info for consumers

Published APR 30, 2021

Money Smarts for Military Families

This blog highlights resources that servicemembers, military families and educators can use to teach children, teens, and young adults how to manage money.

By Nelson Akeredolu, Mechel Glass, and Leslie Jones

Info for consumers

Published JAN 27, 2021

New guide helps military families with unique financial challenges

Military families face unique financial challenges, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. The new Your Money, Your Goals military guide provides resources to help military families overcome these challenges and improve their financial well-being.

By Anthony Camilli

Info for consumers

Published DEC 15, 2020

Listen to CFPB's new podcast episodes

CFPB’s Section for Students and Young Consumers released new podcast episodes. Subscribe today.

By Brian Stone

Info for consumers

Published NOV 17, 2020

Federal tools to help maximize GI Bill® education benefits

GI Bill education benefits are not unlimited, so make sure you have a plan to use them wisely. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ GI Bill Comparison Tool, the Department of Education’s College Scorecard website, and the CFPB’s Your Financial Path to Graduation Tool can help.

By Charmain Bogue, Patrick Brick, Brian Fu, and Kate Mullan

Info for consumers

Published NOV 09, 2020

Honoring and empowering those who served our nation

The CFPB honors and supports the military community during National Veterans and Military Families Month with new tools and resources.

By Nelson Akeredolu

Info for consumers

Published JUL 31, 2020

Empowering military consumers–all year long

Military Consumer focuses on all aspects of consumer protection and financial well-being for the military community in July and beyond.

Director's notebook

Published JUL 17, 2020

Closing remarks: Consumer Financial Protection Week

As Consumer Financial Protection Week comes to a close, the CFPB continues to be here for you with resources to explain your rights, options and protections during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Kathleen L. Kraninger

Info for consumers

Published JUL 15, 2020

Alphabet soup: The ABCs of military consumer protection

Learn about the consumer protection laws that keep members of the military and their families safe from fraud, scams, and financial harm.

By Nelson Akeredolu

Data, research, and reports

Published JUL 14, 2020

New report shows how young servicemembers build credit histories

New research report from the Office of Servicemember Affairs detailing the credit records of young servicemembers.

By Susan Carter, Andy Cohen, and James Marrone

Info for consumers

Published MAY 22, 2020

Saluting service during National Military Appreciation Month

This Military Appreciation Month we salute the service not only of active-duty servicemembers, activated National Guard and Reserve personnel, but also uniformed medical professionals from the U.S. Public Health Service called into action to fight COVID-19.

By Jim Rice

Servicemembers

Info for consumers

Published APR 15, 2020

Financial help for servicemembers affected by the coronavirus

Although active duty servicemembers continue to receive their pay, some military families face financial strain due to the coronavirus. The CFPB has resources that can help.

By Nelson Akeredolu

Data, research, and reports

Published APR 03, 2020

Here's what we’ve been doing over the past year to help military families plan for their next financial journey.

The Office of Servicemember Affairs’ annual report is a review of the CFPB’s work over the past year in fulfilling our duty to help military families.

By Jim Rice