Commercial Banking Fraud Survey – An industry view
Fraud remains one of the most pressing risks for commercial banks and their customers. Yet, much of the global focus has been on fraud threats targeting retail consumers. Fraud in commercial banking - where attacks can be sophisticated, high-value, and harder to detect - has received comparatively less attention.
PwC has collaborated with leading global banks to understand the scale and nature of commercial banking fraud, explore evolving fraud risks, and assess how institutions are adapting their fraud defences.
Our survey provides a comprehensive industry perspective, drawing insights from some of the world’s largest banks spanning the US, UK, Europe, Africa, and Asia and providing insight into how different approaches compare to tackle this ever evolving issue.
Key insights from the report
- Fraud is a growing challenge for banks and businesses
While public data on commercial banking fraud is limited, industry sentiment is clear: fraud losses are significant and rising, impacting financial stability and business confidence. - First-party fraud risks remain a concern
Banks report increasing sophistication in fraudulent credit applications, financial statement manipulation, and trade finance abuse. - Third-party payment fraud is escalating
Impersonation fraud and business email compromise (BEC) are becoming more common, with fraudsters leveraging deepfake technology and social engineering techniques to deceive corporate employees. - Now is the time to invest
Leading banks are investing in real-time fraud detection, AI-driven risk analytics, and cross-industry collaboration to improve fraud prevention and detection capabilities.
A major theme emerging from our research is the industry’s increasing recognition that fraud is not just a financial risk - it erodes trust, disrupts business operations, and creates regulatory challenges. Addressing this risk requires proactive collaboration between financial institutions, regulators, and law enforcement.
How we can help
- Understand how commercial banking fraud is evolving and the risks it presents to your institution.
- Strengthen fraud risk management frameworks and implement leading fraud detection technologies.
- Develop and refine fraud prevention strategies to safeguard commercial customers.
- Enhance fraud resilience with forward-looking analytics, automation, and AI-driven insights.
As fraud threats continue to evolve, staying ahead requires agility, investment, and a collective response. Our report highlights key trends, leading practices, and strategic considerations to help financial institutions build more resilient fraud defences.
Download the full report below to explore the latest insights and industry benchmarks on commercial banking fraud.
