When initially lodging a complaint with a financial institution who should you contact first?

When initially lodging a complaint with a financial institution, you should first contact the customer service department. They are typically the first point of contact and are trained to handle complaints and resolve issues. Make sure to have your account details and any relevant information on hand to facilitate the process. If the issue is not resolved, you can then escalate the complaint to a higher authority within the institution or to an external ombudsman or regulatory body.