The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance regulates the banking, insurance and real estate industries in the state and works to protect and educate consumers. The Division of Banking is responsible for supervising, regulating and monitoring the safety and soundness of State-chartered banks and credit unions. Within the division, the Office of Consumer Finance is responsible for the licensing and regulation of nonbank consumer financial institutions, including credit unions, check cashers, mortgage lenders and brokers. The Office of Depositories is responsible for the supervision of state-chartered depository financial institutions. Key functions include examinations, enforcement, applications, surveillance and corporate filings.The Division of Insurance is comprised of units which are charged with the licensing and oversight of the various types of insurance regulated by the state. The Division issues licenses to insurance companies, producers and other risk-assuming entities, reviews insurance products and rates for compliance with existing regulations and monitors the financial solvency of licensees to ensure product availability in the marketplace.The New Jersey Real Estate Commission, within the Department, is responsible for the licensing and regulation of real estate brokers and salespersons, real estate schools, and course instructors, as well as establishing standards of practice for the real estate brokerage profession.The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance also responds to consumer concerns and inquiries regarding insurance, financial matters and real estate transactions. Consumers may contact the department for assistance with a banking, insurance or real estate issue by calling the department’s Consumer Hotline at 1-800-446-7467 or may file a complaint on the department website: https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/consumer.htm