Figures from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) show the number of complaints made in the second half of the year amounted to just over 2.25 million – a 21% increase from the last six months of 2010.

The noticeable increase was caused by complaints about PPI with the number of complaints rising by 85%.

Banks have been forced to pay back millions of pounds to consumers who were mis-sold the loan cover, with figures showing £2.1 billion was paid in redress to PPI customers in the second half of last year.