This data comes from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and reflects consumer complaints, not proven violations.

CFPB complaint data Grade F 2,333 complaints

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. - Debt Collector Complaint Profile

CFPB complaint profile across 47 states, reputation grade F.

Complaints by issue type

What consumers report about Santander Holdings USA, Inc.

complaints
Source CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

Data updated July 2026

F

Grade F · 48.1/100 composite

This collector has a failing complaint record with very high complaint volumes and poor response rates.

Based on consumer-filed CFPB complaints, not proven violations or a court finding of wrongdoing.

The verdict

A reputation grade of F: Santander Holdings USA, Inc. ranks ahead of 11% of the 5,283 collectors PlainCollector grades - 89% keep a cleaner CFPB record, on 2,333 all-time complaints and a 100% timely-response rate.

11th pct
reputation rank of 5,283 graded collectors
2,333
CFPB complaints, all-time
100%
answered inside the CFPB window
1,197
in the last 12 months (rising)

Grades are relative: every collector is ranked against the others, so an A reflects a cleaner record than peers, not a clean bill of conduct. A complaint is a consumer filing, not a proven violation.

What do CFPB complaints reveal about Santander Holdings USA, Inc.?

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. has accumulated 2,333 total CFPB complaints across 47 states, with 1,197 filed in the most recent 12 months against 1,136 historical complaints before that window. The trailing-12-month volume represents 51.3% of the full complaint history, a rising pattern that suggests escalating consumer friction rather than a legacy book of disputes.

The dominant consumer grievance logged with the CFPB is "Attempts to collect debt not owed", narrowing to "Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged". The company posts a 100% timely-response rate.

Complaints have been recorded across 47 states, led by Texas with 410 and Florida with 277. Normalized against the full CFPB collector database, the reputation score of 48.1/100 places Santander Holdings USA, Inc. in grade band F.

How to read a complaint count →

Complaint Summary

Total CFPB complaints

2,333

high-volume (CCDB)

Last 12 months

1,197

51.3% of all-time complaints

Rising ↑

States active

47

multi-region footprint

Timely response rate

100%

excellent band

Reputation grade

F

48.1/100 composite

How does Santander Holdings USA, Inc.'s reputation rank nationally?

Reputation score vs. every graded collector

PlainCollector composite reputation score (0–100, higher = cleaner CFPB record)

48 Bottom 11% higher than 11% of 5,283 graded collectors

0–10: 0 graded collectors (0%). Below this entry. 10–20: 3 graded collectors (0%). Below this entry. 20–30: 29 graded collectors (1%). Below this entry. 30–40: 160 graded collectors (3%). Below this entry. 40–50: 583 graded collectors (11%). This entry sits in this band. 50–60: 1,469 graded collectors (28%). Above this entry. 60–70: 1,364 graded collectors (26%). Above this entry. 70–80: 871 graded collectors (16%). Above this entry. 80–90: 660 graded collectors (12%). Above this entry. 90–100: 144 graded collectors (3%). Above this entry. This collector 0 100 every graded collector, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more graded collectors. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainCollector composite of CFPB Consumer Complaint Database · 2013–2026

Response-quality profile

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. versus the debt-collection vertical average.

Timely response within SLA 100.0%
Vertical avg

CFPB requires companies to respond within 15 days for most complaints; 60 days for credit-reporting.

State coverage breadth 83.9%

Share of US states + territories with at least one filed complaint against this collector.

How does Santander Holdings USA, Inc. compare to its peers?

How does SANTANDER HOLDINGS USA, INC. compare? Versus a similar-volume peer and the national average, drawn from 10 collectors with a comparable complaint count
SANTANDER HOLDINGS USA… National average
Complaints (last 12 mo)lower is better
1,197
394
268
Timely-response ratehigher is better
100%
100%
91%
Consumer-dispute ratelower is better
0%
16%
19%

Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database.

Complaint Trend (24 months)

2024-04 2026-03

Issue Detail Breakdown

Issue Sub-Issue Complaints
Attempts to collect debt not owed - 915
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action - 699
False statements or representation - 312
Written notification about debt - 289
Communication tactics - 90
Electronic communications - 18
Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly - 10

Where do complaints against Santander Holdings USA, Inc. come from?

Santander Holdings USA, Inc.'s own per-state count, not a national baseline.

Top states by complaints against Santander Holdings USA, Inc.

Across 47 states with at least one filing

complaints
Source CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

What to do if Santander Holdings USA, Inc. contacts you

A grade of F signals how Santander Holdings USA, Inc.'s CFPB record compares to peers, here is how to act on it.

  • Demand written debt validation within 30 days of first contact, collectors must prove the debt is yours. Validation letter
  • Confirm the caller is really Santander Holdings USA, Inc. and not an impostor before paying anything. Verify a collector
  • Know your FDCPA rights, you can stop calls and report harassment. Your rights
  • See how Santander Holdings USA, Inc. ranks against every other collector by complaint record. Browse rankings

Complaint counts and grades reflect the public CFPB record, not a regulator's finding of wrongdoing or legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common complaint against Santander Holdings USA, Inc.? ▼

The most common issue consumers report about Santander Holdings USA, Inc. is "Attempts to collect debt not owed", specifically "Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged". This is based on 2,333 complaints filed with the CFPB.

Are complaints against Santander Holdings USA, Inc. increasing or decreasing? ▼

Complaints against Santander Holdings USA, Inc. are rising. The company received 1,197 complaints in the last 12 months, indicating an upward trend in consumer issues.

What is Santander Holdings USA, Inc.'s reputation grade? ▼

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. has a reputation grade of F (score: 48.1/100), PlainCollector's composite letter grade blending complaint volume, response timeliness, dispute rate, and complaint trend.

Does Santander Holdings USA, Inc. respond to consumer complaints? ▼

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. has a 100% timely response rate to CFPB complaints.

In how many states does Santander Holdings USA, Inc. operate? ▼

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. has received CFPB complaints from consumers in 47 states, with the most complaints from Texas (410 complaints).

Data sourced from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCollector Editorial

Every figure on PlainCollector is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.