Financial Systems and Consumer Protection
Building Financial Systems That Support Safety and Economic Independence
Financial institutions and consumer protection systems play a critical role in preventing and responding to economic abuse. People experiencing economic abuse often face coerced debt, damaged credit, financial fraud, restricted access to banking services, and barriers to rebuilding their financial lives. CCFWE works to strengthen policies, regulations, and financial system practices that improve financial safety, accountability, and economic empowerment.
Key Priorities
- Banking responses to economic abuse
- Consumer protection and financial rights
- Coerced debt and credit reporting reform
- Financial fraud and scam prevention
- Mortgage, insurance, and lending practices
Our Work
We collaborate with financial institutions, regulators, consumer protection agencies, and policymakers to develop solutions that strengthen financial inclusion, safety, and economic security for people experiencing economic abuse. We also have our National Task Force Banking and Financial Services Committee, which works directly with financial systems leaders to understand the realities of people experiencing economic abuse.
Relevant Publications and Resources
- CCFWE Submission on the National Anti-Fraud Strategy (April 23, 2026)
- For Bank Employees – How Canadian Banks Can Support Survivors of Economic Abuse
- Submission to FCAC – Predatory lending practices and Economic Abuse (November 30, 2023)
- Submission to FCAC on Updating Canada’s Low-Cost and No-Cost Banking Services Commitment (December 22, 2023)
- Policy Recommendations for Banks, Credit Unions and Financial Institutions on Addressing Economic Abuse in the Context of Gender-Based Violence in Canada (July 15, 2021)
- Submission for Financial Consumer Agency of Canada on Complaint-Handling Procedures for Banks and Authorized Foreign Banks (July 8, 2021)