Disclaimer: General educational research only — not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ by state and by family. Talk to an estate planning attorney in your state before you act.
Estate Planning Data & Research → Older Americans’ Financial Complaints by State
Consumers who tell the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau they are 62 or older have their complaints tagged “Older American.” Those complaints show where money problems in later life end up: credit reports, credit cards, bank accounts and debt collection. They are also a reminder of why a trusted agent under a durable power of attorney and up-to-date beneficiary forms matter.
This page shows 2025 Older American complaints to the CFPB in every state and D.C., per 100,000 residents 65+.
Complaints are one sign of financial strain late in life. See how a trust and a will differ as you decide who should manage your money if you can’t.
Downloads
Cite this page URL when reusing findings. Not a substitute for official sources or professional advice.
Key findings
- The CFPB received 29,467 complaints tagged Older American in calendar 2025. 29,172 list one of the 50 states or D.C.
- That is 47.6 complaints per 100,000 residents 65 and older nationally.
- The rate is highest in District of Columbia (123.5), Nevada (84.6), Georgia (80.4), and lowest in South Dakota (13.1), Iowa (16.8), Nebraska (18.1).
- The top product was credit reporting or other personal consumer reports (9,737 complaints), followed by credit card (5,325) and checking or savings account (4,402).
Older American financial complaints by state, 2025
| State | Older American complaints, 2025 | Residents 65+ | Complaints per 100,000 residents 65+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 335 | 955,166 | 35.1 |
| Alaska | 36 | 109,415 | 32.9 |
| Arizona | 611 | 1,491,158 | 41.0 |
| Arkansas | 172 | 562,707 | 30.6 |
| California | 4,320 | 6,524,861 | 66.2 |
| Colorado | 398 | 980,364 | 40.6 |
| Connecticut | 294 | 713,337 | 41.2 |
| Delaware | 158 | 227,824 | 69.4 |
| District of Columbia | 112 | 90,674 | 123.5 |
| Florida | 3,538 | 5,094,353 | 69.4 |
| Georgia | 1,419 | 1,765,603 | 80.4 |
| Hawaii | 82 | 311,305 | 26.3 |
| Idaho | 71 | 355,551 | 20.0 |
| Illinois | 1,257 | 2,274,582 | 55.3 |
| Indiana | 304 | 1,218,401 | 25.0 |
| Iowa | 103 | 612,603 | 16.8 |
| Kansas | 182 | 533,774 | 34.1 |
| Kentucky | 268 | 825,850 | 32.5 |
| Louisiana | 337 | 819,864 | 41.1 |
| Maine | 87 | 329,926 | 26.4 |
| Maryland | 710 | 1,099,752 | 64.6 |
| Massachusetts | 525 | 1,335,942 | 39.3 |
| Michigan | 688 | 1,987,859 | 34.6 |
| Minnesota | 320 | 1,056,273 | 30.3 |
| Mississippi | 212 | 531,347 | 39.9 |
| Missouri | 408 | 1,169,201 | 34.9 |
| Montana | 48 | 241,423 | 19.9 |
| Nebraska | 63 | 348,052 | 18.1 |
| Nevada | 487 | 575,351 | 84.6 |
| New Hampshire | 111 | 303,232 | 36.6 |
| New Jersey | 1,021 | 1,706,665 | 59.8 |
| New Mexico | 139 | 429,233 | 32.4 |
| New York | 1,718 | 3,757,173 | 45.7 |
| North Carolina | 908 | 1,980,690 | 45.8 |
| North Dakota | 28 | 140,295 | 20.0 |
| Ohio | 882 | 2,271,397 | 38.8 |
| Oklahoma | 227 | 692,081 | 32.8 |
| Oregon | 272 | 850,217 | 32.0 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,186 | 2,665,974 | 44.5 |
| Rhode Island | 65 | 220,168 | 29.5 |
| South Carolina | 469 | 1,082,724 | 43.3 |
| South Dakota | 23 | 175,902 | 13.1 |
| Tennessee | 474 | 1,273,979 | 37.2 |
| Texas | 2,494 | 4,365,469 | 57.1 |
| Utah | 106 | 434,922 | 24.4 |
| Vermont | 31 | 148,485 | 20.9 |
| Virginia | 741 | 1,550,385 | 47.8 |
| Washington | 379 | 1,378,508 | 27.5 |
| West Virginia | 71 | 386,851 | 18.4 |
| Wisconsin | 258 | 1,171,042 | 22.0 |
| Wyoming | 24 | 117,373 | 20.4 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database, tag “Older American,” complaints received Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025; Census ACS 2024 1-year, table B01001 (65+). The CFPB tag covers consumers 62+, so the per-65+ rate is an approximation.
What this means if you’re planning
- Choose a financial agent before you need one. A durable power of attorney lets someone you trust deal with banks and creditors. See power of attorney abuse watch for safeguards.
- Check beneficiary designations. See money that skips the will.
- Watch the house too. See deed theft watch and reverse mortgage heirs.
Related: the incapacity gap · forgotten savings bonds
Methodology
CFPB Consumer Complaint Database search API, filter tags = “Older American,” date received Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025, pulled Oct. 12, 2026; state is the consumer’s state as submitted. 295 complaints had no state, a territory or a military address and are excluded from the state table. Rates use the Census ACS 2024 1-year population 65+ (table B01001). The CFPB tags complaints Older American when the consumer reports being 62 or older; tagging depends on what consumers report. Complaints are not verified by the CFPB and are not a measure of fraud or wrongdoing.
What this doesn’t measure. Elder financial exploitation cases, losses, or complaints made to other agencies.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Older American complaint?
A complaint to the CFPB where the consumer said they were 62 or older.
How many complaints did older Americans file in 2025?
29,467 Older American–tagged complaints were received in 2025.
Is this legal advice?
No.
Sources
Public-domain government sources only. Fetched 2026-10-12.
Data
- CFPB Consumer Complaint Database API, tag Older American, 2025: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/search/api/v1/?tags=Older%20American&date_received_min=2025-01-01&date_received_max=2025-12-31
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, table B01001: https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs1/groups/B01001.html
Cite this data
Family Estate Guide, “Older Americans’ Financial Complaints per 100,000 Residents 65+, by State,” October 2026. https://familyestateguide.com/estate-planning-data/older-americans-financial-complaints/
You’re welcome to reuse the table with a link back to this page. The underlying government data is public.
Published October 12, 2026 by Family Estate Guide. Data vintage: CFPB complaints received in 2025; Census ACS 2024 1-year. Editorial standards.