​​​​​Mission

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is dedicated to protecting the safety and soundness of Wisconsin’s financial institutions, safeguarding the investing public, facilitating commerce, and increasing financial capability throughout the state. 

Agency Responsibility

The department’s functions include the regulation and examination of state-chartered depository institutions and other financial services providers, registration of securities offerings and regulation of securities professionals, issuance of notary public commissions, registration of trademarks, registration of charitable organizations, and support and maintenance of the state’s central business registration and uniform commercial code filing systems. In addition, the department’s secretary is the administrator of the Wisconsin Consumer Act, governing consumer credit transactions under $25,000.

The department operates with four regulatory and licensing divisions or offices, and houses the Office of Financial Capability, which promotes financial literacy as a life skill and provides information to the public on matters of personal finance. The department is also the administrator of Wisconsin’s 529 College Savings Program, which includes the direct-sold Edvest plan and the advisor-sold Tomorrow’s Scholar plan. The Office of Credit Unions is attached to the department for administrative purposes. The department is self-supporting through program revenue derived from fees and assessments paid by regulated entities and individuals.​