CFPB Modifies Consumer Complaint System

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced a significant change to its consumer complaint database. Effective August 14, 2026, the agency will cease the discretionary publication of consumer complaint narratives and related visualizations [CFPB Newsroom]. This decision follows a June 24, 2026, press release indicating the CFPB is correcting "flaws to restore integrity and utility" to its consumer complaint system, noting that the portal has been "plagued by issues that severely limit its effectiveness." Consumers can still submit complaints, but the public display of individual narratives will be discontinued. Earlier, on June 2, 2026, the CFPB also reported working to ensure consumers affected by Bilt's transition to a new bank partner were made whole, meeting with Bilt officials to understand and remedy issues [CFPB Newsroom].

FTC Issues New Consumer Scam Warnings

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued multiple consumer alerts this month, advising the public on various fraud schemes. New warnings include scams impersonating farm equipment businesses (September 15, 2026) and spoofing car dealership websites (September 1, 2026). The FTC also highlighted the risks associated with scanning unfamiliar QR codes, noting that scammers are using them (September 3, 2026). Specific guidance was provided for individuals whose intimate images were shared online without consent, including instructions on how to report such incidents to the FTC (September 10 and 17, 2026). Other recent alerts cover postcard scams targeting veterans, brushing scams involving unexpected packages, and bill pay impersonators using paid search ads [FTC Consumer Alerts].

Federal Reserve Releases Economic Projections and Policy Statements

The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) released economic projections on September 16, 2026, following their September 15-16 meeting [Federal Reserve Press Releases]. Concurrently, the Federal Reserve issued an FOMC statement outlining its monetary policy decisions. Earlier in September, the agencies also sought public comment on proposed third-party risk management guidance and issued a statement on community bank engagement with core service providers (September 11, 2026). Additionally, measures were announced on September 10, 2026, to reduce regulatory burden for community banks, increasing their eligibility for an 18-month exam cycle [Federal Reserve Press Releases].