What role does the Fed play in consumer protection​?

You often hear about the Federal Reserve when it comes to interest rates and monetary policy. After all, the central bank’s role in setting the federal funds rate has real effects on consumers and their money. But the Fed does more than just influence monetary policy — it also plays a key role in consumer protection.

Learn more about how the Fed protects consumers through rulemaking, regulation, and more.

The Federal Reserve, commonly referred to as “the Fed,” is the central bank of the United States. The Fed was created by the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 and includes a board of governors, 12 Federal Reserve banks, and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).

Beyond its role in setting monetary policy, the Fed helps ensure fairness and transparency in consumer finance. Here are the key protections it provides.

1. Rulemaking and regulation

The Fed has the important task of setting rules that impact both financial systems and consumers.

For example, the Fed developed regulations under major consumer financial laws such as the Truth in Lending Act and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which require banks to clearly disclose terms, fees, and interest rates so people can make informed choices.

Similarly, the Fed originally issued Regulation B, a set of rules that provides the framework for the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibits discrimination in credit applications and requires lenders to provide a reason when denying credit.

It’s important to note that while the Fed historically developed many of these rules — and continues to enforce them at the banks it supervises — it shares these responsibilities with other agencies, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

2. Supervision and evaluation of banks

Along with setting rules and regulations, the Fed supervises other financial institutions, including bank holding companies, state member banks, nonbank financial companies, and others, to ensure they follow the law.

The Fed supervises these institutions with regular examinations and inspections, in which it rates the following:

It also issues a report of its findings and, if necessary, ensures a financial institution makes any changes needed to adhere to Fed guidelines.

The Fed operates a consumer complaint system where people can submit concerns about banks it supervises. Fed staff review these complaints to ensure banks are following the law, and when issues fall outside its jurisdiction, it refers them to the appropriate agency (like the CFPB).

While the Fed generally doesn’t resolve individual disputes directly, it does use complaint data to investigate patterns of misconduct, analyze this data, and include it in its annual report to Congress.

Consumers can file complaints or get more information through the Federal Reserve Consumer Help website, which provides guidance on financial products and services and links to other agencies better equipped to handle certain issues.

4. Research and analysis of consumer issues

In order to best serve and protect U.S. consumers, the Fed needs a thorough understanding of the public. That’s why the bank focuses on researching, analyzing, and collecting data on consumers and communities, including financially vulnerable populations. It does so by conducting the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking, which gives insight into the financial challenges consumers are facing.

The Fed’s Community Advisory Council (CAC) includes experts on topics such as affordable housing, small businesses, financial services, and employment and labor. The committee’s goal is to share perspectives on consumers’ financial services needs, especially those in low- and moderate-income communities. The Fed publishes data, findings, and events related to community development online at Fedcommunities.org.

As a consumer, you may think of the Fed as the agency that influences inflation, interest rates, and employment. And it’s true: When the Fed adjusts interest rates, this has a very real effect on borrowing costs, deposit account yields, and even the job market.

Read more: Jobs, inflation, and the Fed: How they’re all related

However, the Fed doesn’t just influence monetary policy — it also protects you and your finances by regulating financial institutions, maintaining a consumer complaint system, researching consumer issues, engaging in community economic development, and coordinating with other agencies.

While much of this work happens behind the scenes, the Federal Reserve Consumer Help website is available for filing complaints and getting answers to your financial questions.