Financial institutions are prioritizing investments in digital solutions to combat cybercrime in 2025 as AI-powered fraud remains a growing threat. 

Banks and credit unions are more concerned about adversarial AI heading into 2025 than they were in 2024, according to a report released Nov. 19 by cybercrime solutions company Arkose Labs, which surveyed 60 North American financial cybercrime professionals. 

The report found: 

• 55% of FIs are very concerned that cyberattacks and fraud will increase next year, a 29% year-over-year increase. 

• Only 8% of FIs are optimistic that existing solutions can combat AI-related cybercrime. 

“Our findings have been that [information security executives] still don’t have an operational base for [AI-related fraud solutions],” Datos Insights Director of Cybersecurity John Horn said during the Nov. 19 webinar “Defending the Enterprise: Growing the business in 2025,” hosted by the data provider. 

Read more: AI for cybersecurity: Fighting fire with fire 

Fighting AI fraud 

Because of the growing threats, the best strategy for FIs are identity digital solutions to protect consumers, Horn said. 

 Survey respondents reported that in the coming year: 

• 42% of FIs plan to invest in customer identity solutions for digital services to improve cyber and fraud risks; 

• 33% of FIs plan to invest in API security solutions to support digital transformation initiatives; and 

• 30% of FIs plan to invest in API security solutions to support open banking. 

“AI is certainly heavily hyped in the market, for good reason,” Horn said. While financial institutions can tap generative AI and AI to boost security, fraudsters also are tapping the technology, so “we’ve seen greater attacks.”  

Register here for early-bird pricing for Bank Automation Summit 2025, taking place March 3-4 in Nashville, Tenn. View the full event agenda here.