Consumer loans come in all shapes and sizes. As you might imagine, they form an enormous sector of the economy that grifters and scammers can find irresistible.
DFPI & Loans
In California, DFPI is central in ensuring lenders operate fairly, transparently, and in compliance with state laws and regulations. And that’s something that can help every Californian breathe easier.
Featured Resources

Checking Your Credit – What You Need to Know
Reviewing your credit report can help protect your credit history from mistakes, errors, or signs of identity theft. The DFPI strongly encourages you to pull your report annually, so there are no surprises when you need to open a new account or use your credit for an important purchase, such as a car or home.

Student Loan Debt: A Disproportionate Burden on Black and Latino Borrowers
In the United States, student loan debt is nearing $2 trillion, and Californians carry approximately $150 billion of the debt. Student loan debt is now the second highest consumer market after mortgages.

New Year, New Financial Goals
Follow these eight tips to help you set your financial goals for the coming year and create a plan for successfully achieving them

Useful Terms
Amortization
Amortization allows you to pay off a loan via regular payments that are applied to both the principal and interest. Make sure you have your loan’s amortization schedule so you know how each payment contributes to reducing the loan balance.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is your total yearly cost of borrowing. Your APR includes both interest payments and any additional fees or charges associated with the loan.
Grace Period
The grace period is a stretch of time when you can pay your balance in full without incurring any interest charges.
Interest Rate
Your interest rate represents the cost a lender charges you for letting you use its money. It is the annual percentage of the total loan amount that you have to pay to the lender on the money you’ve borrowed, in addition to repayment of the principal.
Principal
Your principal is the original amount of money borrowed, separate from interest and fees. As you pay down your loan, part of each payment goes toward your principal and another part goes toward interest.
Other Useful Links:
- Protect your money. Know your rights: This resource should be your first stop when it comes to protecting your money and knowing your rights in California. Find numerous educational resources and important contacts in the event you think you’ve been taken advantage of.
- Bureau of Consumer Protection: The Bureau of Consumer Protection collects and investigates reports from consumers of unfair and fraudulent business practices, suing companies and people who break the law, developing rules to maintain a fair marketplace, and educating consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities.
- Industries Regulated by DFPI: What may sound like an impossibly dry and boring web page is actually a valuable and even fascinating guide where you can learn about how the financial industry in California actually works.
- Debt: A Guide for New Americans: If you come from a culture where cash is king, debt may sound forbidding, but managed correctly, debt can help you achieve your American dreams. If you need more guidance in understanding credit, check out Consumer Financial Education: Credit and Credit Reports or check out our CalMoneySmart grantees that specialize in financial education and empowerment.
Other Recent Consumer Alerts and Insights
Consumer Insights

Student loan borrowers: What happens if your SAVE plan is still in forbearance?
Are you curious about your student loans and need expert guidance? Get answers to your top questions from student loan expert, Celina Damian.

Consumer Insights
Pig butchering - how to spot and report the scam
Apr 15, 2025
Pig butchering is an investment scam where fraudsters gain the trust of victims over time and then deceive them into investing in fake crypto or another fraudulent investment opportunity. The term refers to the agricultural practice of fattening pigs before slaughter, symbolizing how scammers "fatten" their victims with false attention before exploiting them financially.

Alerts
Scam Alert: Imposter Posing as DFPI in Crypto Investment Scheme
Apr 25, 2025
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) has received reports of scammers claiming to be from “CDFI,” using deceptive email addresses such as [email protected] and [email protected].

Alerts
Advisory to Small Businesses: Speak Up About Merchant Cash Advances
Apr 14, 2025
The DFPI wants to hear from small businesses that may have fallen prey to unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices in connection with a financial product known as a merchant cash advance (MCA).