The Arizona Department of Financial Institutions partners with federal examiners to examine financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions, and has primary responsibility for examining financial enterprises, such as collection agencies and mortgage brokers. These examinations are designed to protect consumers and ensure sound business operations. Although the Department has established policies and procedures for effectively examining financial institutions, as of April 2013, the Department had a backlog of 197 statutorily required financial enterprise examinations. In order to address the backlog, the Department should spend less time examining enterprises that comply with the law and spend more time examining noncompliant or high-risk enterprises. The Department should also improve its complaint handling by enhancing its policies and procedures and establishing complaint processing time frames. In addition, the Department should ensure that the fees it charges match its costs.

The Department of Financial Institutions ('DFI') licenses, supervises, and regulates state chartered financial institutions and enterprises to ensure the safety and soundness of these financial entities, and verify compliance with state and federal laws. DFI also serves Arizona citizens by investigating complaints that are filed by consumers against licensed individuals and entities and applies appropriate remedial action when the violations are substantiated.

The Department of Financial Institutions ('DFI') licenses, supervises, and regulates state chartered financial institutions and enterprises to ensure the safety and soundness of these financial entities, and verify compliance with state and federal laws. DFI also serves Arizona citizens by investigating complaints that are filed by consumers against licensed individuals and entities and applies appropriate remedial action when the violations are substantiated.