This week, the Consumer Financial Bureau began to accept applications for membership on all four of its advisory committees — the Consumer Advisory Board, the Community Bank Advisory Council, the Credit Union Advisory Council and the Academic Research Council.

The bureau also shared seven examples of the types of applicants the regulator is seeking, including:

— Experts in consumer protection, community development, consumer finance, fair lending, and civil rights

— Experts in consumer financial products or services, including consumer reporting, student lending, small dollar lending, credit cards, debt collection, and debt relief

— Experts in consumer finance education

— Representatives of banks and credit unions that serve underserved communities

— Representatives of communities that have been significantly impacted by higher priced mortgage loans

— Current employees of credit unions and community banks

— Academics (experienced economists with a strong research and publishing or practitioner background, and a record of involvement in research and public policy, including public or academic service)

“These advisory committees provide the bureau with information about emerging trends and practices in the consumer financial marketplace,” the bureau said in a blog post announcing the path to apply. “They also allow us to hear directly from small financial institutions.

The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 27. Individuals can apply by going to this website.