CFPB Whistleblower

Find Out What You Need to Know About Blowing the Whistle with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is one of several federal agencies that accepts whistleblower complaints from private citizens. Current employees, former employees, and other individuals can report violations of all federal consumer financial laws to the CFPB—including (but by no means limited to) violations involving deceptive advertising, discrimination related to approvals, and fraudulent consumer financial products.

Our attorneys help current and former employees of financial institutions and other entities report all forms of potential wrongdoing to the CFPB. If you have questions about serving as a CFPB whistleblower, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. Along with representing CFPB whistleblowers, we assist individuals with reporting potential violations to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other government enforcement agencies as well, and we do so at no out-of-pocket cost to our clients.

Reporting Violations of Consumer Financial Protection Laws to the CFPB

The CFPB accepts whistleblower complaints involving a wide range of federal statutes. If you are interested in providing assistance to a federal law enforcement agency relating to enforcement any of the following, your best course of action may be to serve as a CFPB whistleblower:

Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA)
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act)
Consumer Leasing Act (CLA)
Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA)
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA)
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA)
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
Truth in Lending Act (TILA)

Whistleblowers can report all forms of suspected wrongdoing under these (and other) statutes to the CFPB. This includes (but is not limited to):

Making discriminatory lending decisions based on protected group characteristics (i.e., race or ethnicity)
Making discriminatory lending decisions impacting small businesses (i.e., discriminating against small business owners in particular groups)
Engaging in misleading advertising (i.e., misrepresenting mortgage failure rates)
Relying on biased artificial intelligence (AI) platforms
Engaging in other conduct that violates any federal law focused on protecting consumers

If you believe that your employer, your former employer, or any other company has engaged in any form of illegal conduct that has harmed (or has the potential to harm) US consumers, our whistleblower attorneys can help you make informed decisions about your next steps. If you decide to come forward, we can file your whistleblower complaint in a timely manner, and we can communicate with CFPB staff on your behalf throughout the process.

Serving as a CFPB Whistleblower: What You Need to Know

Let’s say you decide to serve as a CFPB whistleblower. What can you expect once you commit to coming forward? Here’s what you need to know:

1. Employers Cannot Enforce Confidentiality Agreements to Prevent Whistleblowing

Employees who sign confidentiality agreements with their employers are eligible to serve as whistleblowers. Reporting possible violations of federal law as a whistleblower is a protected activity. As a result, employers cannot use confidentiality agreements to prohibit their employees from disclosing fraudulent and abusive acts to federal authorities.

2. CFPB Whistleblowers Are Entitled to Strict Confidentiality

Any current or former employee who comes forward as a CFPB whistleblower is entitled to strict confidentiality. The CFPB protects whistleblowers’ identities to the fullest extent possible under federal law. Our attorneys help protect our clients’ identities as well, and we do not disclose any information unless our clients expressly authorize us to do so.

3. CFPB Whistleblowers Are Entitled to Protection Against Employer Retaliation

Along with confidentiality, CFPB whistleblowers are also entitled to protection against retaliation by their employers. The anti-retaliation provisions of federal whistleblower laws are designed to ensure that if an employer discerns a whistleblower’s identity, this will not put the whistleblower’s job at risk.

4. Your Lawyer Can Communicate with CFPB Staff as Your Authorized Representative

If you decide to contact the CFPB about fraud or abuse involving any financial products or services, your lawyer can communicate with CFPB staff as your authorized representatives. Our whistleblower lawyers have extensive experience communicating with the CFPB and other agencies, and we work with state regulators in appropriate cases as well.

5. The CFPB Relies on Whistleblowers to Play an Active Role During Its Government Investigations

While whistleblowers are not required to provide additional assistance beyond their initial complaint, the CFPB often relies heavily on whistleblowers to play an active role during its government investigations. If you are willing to provide additional assistance, our lawyers can help you make informed decisions about the extent of your role, and we can advise and represent you every step of the way.

6. Other Federal Government Authorities May Also Play a Role in the Investigation

In many cases, the CFPB works alongside the CFTC, SEC, and other federal government authorities to pursue civil and criminal enforcement actions. With our attorneys’ deep experience—including prior experience at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)—we are fully prepared to work effectively with all pertinent federal agencies on behalf of our whistleblower clients.

7. While the CFPB Does Not Have Authority to Issue Whistleblower Rewards, Other Federal Agencies Do

While the CFPB offers whistleblower protections, it does not currently have the authority to issue whistleblower rewards. However, many other federal agencies do have whistleblower reward programs. With this in mind, if you are considering contacting the CFPB, our attorneys can also assess whether you may be able to come forward with a different federal agency so that you can establish your eligibility for a monetary reward.

Regardless of whether you decide to contact the CFPB or another federal agency, timing is important. To qualify as a whistleblower, you must generally be the first to come forward. Waiting to come forward can also compromise the federal government’s ability to pursue a successful enforcement action in some cases. With this in mind, if you have questions about serving as a CFPB whistleblower, we strongly encourage you to contact us for a free and confidential consultation today.

FAQs: Filing a Whistleblower Complaint with the CFPB

What Types of Whistleblower Complaints Does the CFPB Accept?

The CFPB accepts whistleblower complaints involving violations of federal consumer financial laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Truth in Lending Act (TILA), among many others. If you believe that you have information about a financial institution or any other entity engaging in discriminatory, fraudulent, or other unlawful practices, our whistleblower attorneys can help you make an informed decision about whether to contact the CFPB.

Does the CFPB Have a Whistleblower Reward Program?

No, the CFPB currently does not have a whistleblower reward program. As a result, while CFPB whistleblowers are entitled to strict confidentiality and strong anti-retaliation protections, they are not eligible for monetary rewards.

With this in mind, prospective whistleblowers who are considering contacting the CFPB may want to consider other options as well. For example, the CFTC, SEC, and DOJ administer whistleblower reward programs, and they accept complaints involving various forms of financial and consumer fraud. When you contact us to discuss coming forward, our attorneys will walk you through all of the options you have available.

Can Employees Who Have Nondisclosure Agreements File Whistleblower Complaints with the CFPB?

Yes, even if you have signed a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) with your employer, you can still file a whistleblower complaint with the CFPB. Employers are prohibited from using NDAs to prevent their employees from reporting violations of the law. If you have concerns about the implications of your NDA, we invite you to contact us for more information.

Are Individuals Who Contact the CFPB Protected Against Whistleblower Retaliation?

Like other federal whistleblowers, CFPB whistleblowers are entitled to protection against retaliation by their employers. If an employer discerns a whistleblower’s identity, it may not fire or take other adverse employment action against the whistleblower based on his or her decision to come forward. When employers retaliate against whistleblowers in violation of federal law, whistleblowers are entitled to seek damages for their lost income, lost employment opportunities, emotional distress, and other financial and non-financial losses.

What Other Whistleblower Protections Are Afforded to CFPB Whistleblowers?

Along with anti-retaliation protections, CFPB whistleblowers are also entitled to stringent confidentiality protections under federal law. As a result, employers will not be able to discern whistleblowers’ identities in most cases. While the CFPB protects whistleblowers’ identities, we help protect our clients’ identities as well, and we are prepared to go to great lengths to help ensure that our clients’ identities are not exposed.

Arrange a Free and Confidential Consultation with a CFPB Whistleblower Attorney Today

If you would like more information about serving as a CFPB whistleblower (or the other options you may have available), we invite you to get in touch. To speak with one of our senior whistleblower attorneys in strict confidence as soon as possible, call 888-680-1745 or tell us how we can reach you online today.