Sample letter to your bank or credit union to
dispute information it provided about your
checking account history
You’re saying: “My consumer report for checking accounts contains
inaccurate information. I want a correction or update from the bank or credit
union that provided the information.”
Use the sample letter if you believe that your checking account report contains information that is
inaccurate or incomplete. It is important to dispute inaccurate information with both the
consumer reporting company that created the report and the financial institution that provided
the inaccurate information. Use this letter with the bank or credit union. We’ve created another
letter to dispute information with the checking account reporting company.
How to use this sample:
1. Read the background below.
2. Fill in your personal information below. Edit the information in [brackets] to address the
specific inaccuracies that you are disputing. If you need to dispute several items, provide all of
the information below about each one in a numbered list.
3. Print and mail the letter. You may consider using “return receipt requested,” for proof that the
bank or credit union received it. Keep a copy of the letter for your records. If you send any
information with the letter, send copies and keep your originals.
4. Ensure the error has been removed by requesting confirmation from the consumer reporting
company.
Background
This letter provides the bank or credit union with enough information to identify you and the
specific accounts that you are disputing. When disputing an item of information about an account
that you have had, consider including a copy of your checking account report
. This will make
identifying the items that you are disputing easier. You can mark or circle the items on the report
that you think are wrong. Your letter will explain why they are wrong. You may also want to
include copies of additional supporting documentation.
All companies that report information to consumer reporting companies—including reporting
companies focused on checking accounts—are required to accept disputes from consumers. You
can send your dispute to the address for the bank or credit union found in your consumer report or
you can call customer service for the bank that reported the information about you to find out
where to send the dispute. Financial institutions may require additional documents for requests
involving identity theft. If your complaint involves identity theft, you should contact the financial
institution in question to determine their identity theft procedures and be prepared to make copies
of relevant identifying documents which may include a copy of your state-issued license or social
security card. You can visit www.identitytheft.gov to find more resources to combat identity theft.
Sample letter begins on the next page.
[Your name]
[Account Number at Institution if available]
[Date of birth or other identifying information requested by company]
[Your return address] [Date]
[Financial Institution Name]
[Financial Institution address for receipt of direct disputes]
Re: Error[s] on consumer checking account screening report.
Dear [Name of financial institution],
I am writing to request a correction of the following information that appears on my [name of checking
account reporting company] consumer report:
Dispute 1 [The following examples are meant to be helpful, include all disputes that apply]
Account Number or other information to identify account to the company: [Insert account number or
other information such as account holder names and past addresses. This is important especially if
you have had multiple accounts with the same company.]
Dates associated with item being disputed: [Insert the date that appears on your report. This helps
ensure that the correct account is identified by the financial institution and to identify which aspects
of the report are being disputed. You can still file a dispute if you don’t have this date.]
Explanation of item being disputed: [Insert a detailed explanation of why the information is
inaccurate. Choose one of the choices below if it fits, or add your own description.]
The report shows I owed money to the bank that I have already repaid. [Give info about when
you paid, and attach a copy of any proof that you have.]
The report shows that I was suspected of fraudulent activity but I was the victim of a scam and
not the perpetrator.
I’m the victim of identity theft and I don’t recognize one or more of the accounts on my report.
[You may wish to include a copy of the FTC identity theft affidavit describing the identity theft.]
Other [Describe what is wrong with the report. You may include copies of any additional
supporting documentation that you have.]
Dispute 2 [Continue numbering for each disputed item on your report and include the same information]
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
