Planning for tax-time savings
A large study exploring tax-time saving found that early messaging and small incentives were effective at encouraging some customers to save using a savings feature on their prepaid card.
Research and reports
We study how consumers interact with financial products and services to help identify potential problems in the marketplace and achieve better outcomes for all. Review our reports and analyses to help inform your decisions, policies, and practices. And, see reports that we periodically prepare about the CFPB.
Suspicious Activity Reports on Elder Financial Exploitation
This study analyzes a rich, non-public data set to shed light on the volume and characteristics of elder financial abuse.
Financial Well-Being of Veterans
This research brief explores the factors that are associated with financial well-being for veterans. It relies on data from the Bureau’s National Financial Well-Being Survey to examine the distribution of financial well-being scores for veterans in the United States.
Review of youth financial education: Effects and evidence
This report is designed to help education policymakers, program leaders, financial educators, and academic researchers make evidence-informed policy, programming and resourcing decisions in school-based financial education.
Youth Financial Education Research Priorities
This report lays out key unanswered research questions in youth financial education identified by a range of stakeholders.
Financial Well-being of Older Americans
This report explores the factors that are associated with the financial well-being of older Americans. It relies on data from the National Financial Well-Being Survey to examine the distribution of financial well-being scores for adults ages 62 and older in the United States.
2018 Financial Literacy Annual Report
The 2018 Financial Literacy Annual Report is a statutorily mandated report to Congress on the Bureau’s activities and strategy to improve the financial capability and well-being of consumers.
Child savings accounts: Advancing the field to better serve traditionally underserved consumers
The Bureau held a forum on child savings accounts. We produced a report on the forum so that you can learn more about how states and communities are offering opportunities for families to save for post-secondary education.
Measuring financial skill: A guide to using the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's Financial Skill Scale
The Bureau led a research effort to develop a “scale” to measure financial skill. This guide describes the research behind the Financial Skill Scale and provides detailed steps for using the scale.
Pathways to financial well-being
The Bureau conducted a study to analyze the associations between financial capability factors (i.e., financial knowledge, skill, and behavior), financial situation, and financial well-being. This report summarizes the results of the study and show evidence of a pathway to financial well-being.
Building Blocks to Help Youth Achieve Financial Capability: Measurement guide
The Building Blocks Measurement Guide provides a means of assessing young people’s progress toward acquiring the foundations of financial capability.