CFPB Consumer Complaint Profile
Sterling Bancorp
210 CFPB complaints trace a pattern in how this company responds when customers push back on credit, billing, or collection problems.
Data updated 2026-08-14
- 210
- Total complaints
- Above average
- 0
- Last 12 months
- 97.1%
- Timely response
- Below median
- 20
- States affected
The verdict
Among 3,843 financial companies tracked by CFPB complaint volume, Sterling Bancorp sits at #895, with 210 complaints logged. It posts a 97.1% on-time response rate, the 40th percentile among companies with 100+ complaints.
- #895
- of 3,843 companies by volume
- 97.1%
- on time (40th pctile)
- Mortgage
- most-complained product
- 20
- states with complaints
Raw complaint volume, not a rate: larger institutions naturally draw more CFPB complaints because they serve more customers, and a complaint is a consumer-filed record, not a proven finding of wrongdoing.
Based on this company's own CFPB response record -- timely response, dispute rate, and relief rate, each benchmarked against every tracked company with 10+ complaints. Not a measure of product quality, pricing, or company size.
Sterling Bancorp vs. all companies by on-time response rate
Every company with 100+ CFPB complaints on file (1,335 total)
97.1% Around the middle higher than 40% of 1,335 companies
companies with 100+ CFPB complaints, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more companies. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Consumer Complaint Database · 2026-08-14
Percent of CFPB complaints answered within the regulator's expected window. Industry benchmark sits at 95%.
Reading this profile
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database
Complaints by Product
Top Issues
Complaints by Year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2019 | 40 |
| 2020 | 56 |
| 2021 | 51 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
Complaints by State (Top 15)
Company Responses
What the CFPB Complaint Record Shows for Sterling Bancorp
The CFPB Consumer Complaint Database has logged 210 complaints against Sterling Bancorp overall, with 0 of those filed in the trailing 12 months. Reports have come from consumers in 20 states and territories, making this a multi-regional complaint footprint. "Mortgage" tops the product-level breakdown by a clear margin, marking it as the area of greatest consumer friction. Inside that category, "Managing an account" comes up most often - worth a look for anyone trying to spot the company's recurring pain point.
Within the Bureau's 15-day response window, Sterling Bancorp posts a 97.1% reply rate on forwarded complaints. That figure is at or above the industry benchmark and suggests the company's intake and escalation processes are functioning as designed. Resolved complaints closed with monetary or non-monetary relief for the consumer at a 5.7% rate.
How to read complaint counts
Complaint counts alone do not tell the full story: larger institutions with more customers will naturally generate more complaints in absolute terms. The more informative signals are the direction of the yearly trend shown above, the state-level concentration, and the ratio of monetary-relief closures to closed-without-relief outcomes. Together, these fields provide context for reading the published CFPB record; they do not establish wrongdoing or resolve an individual dispute.
Educational data summary, not financial or legal advice. Individual complaint outcomes vary. Consumers should consult a qualified attorney or financial advisor for guidance on a specific dispute.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CFPB complaints does Sterling Bancorp have?
The CFPB has logged 210 complaints against Sterling Bancorp to date, of which 0 came in over the last 12 months.
Does Sterling Bancorp respond to complaints on time?
Sterling Bancorp has a 97.1% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. That puts it among the more responsive companies in the CFPB dataset.
What product generates the most complaints for Sterling Bancorp?
The most complained-about product for Sterling Bancorp is "Mortgage." You can view the full product breakdown on this page.
What is the most common complaint issue with Sterling Bancorp?
Consumers most often cite "Managing an account" when complaining about Sterling Bancorp; the full issue list with counts is above.
How do I file a complaint against Sterling Bancorp?
You can file a complaint against Sterling Bancorp directly with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB will forward your complaint to the company and work to get you a response, typically within 15 days.
In how many states have consumers complained about Sterling Bancorp?
Sterling Bancorp has drawn CFPB complaints from 20 states and territories. That figure covers the 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and smaller CFPB-tracked jurisdictions (Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, military postal codes), so it can run higher than the 52 states/territories with a dedicated page on this site.
Also handles Mortgage
Other companies with the same primary CFPB product category on file.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CFPB complaints does Sterling Bancorp have?
The CFPB has logged 210 complaints against Sterling Bancorp to date, of which 0 came in over the last 12 months.
Does Sterling Bancorp respond to complaints on time?
Sterling Bancorp has a 97.1% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. That puts it among the more responsive companies in the CFPB dataset.
What product generates the most complaints for Sterling Bancorp?
The most complained-about product for Sterling Bancorp is "Mortgage." You can view the full product breakdown on this page.
What is the most common complaint issue with Sterling Bancorp?
Consumers most often cite "Managing an account" when complaining about Sterling Bancorp; the full issue list with counts is above.
How do I file a complaint against Sterling Bancorp?
You can file a complaint against Sterling Bancorp directly with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB will forward your complaint to the company and work to get you a response, typically within 15 days.
In how many states have consumers complained about Sterling Bancorp?
Sterling Bancorp has drawn CFPB complaints from 20 states and territories. That figure covers the 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and smaller CFPB-tracked jurisdictions (Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, military postal codes), so it can run higher than the 52 states/territories with a dedicated page on this site.