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Research Report

What’s Going On in Fraud 2026: Solving the First-Party Fraud Crisis With Agentic AI 

Fraud isn’t just coming from hackers in hoodies anymore — it’s coming from your customers. What’s Going On in Fraud 2026 from Ron Shevlin and Lindsay Hooks at Cornerstone Advisors and Casap reveals a dramatic shift in the fraud landscape, as first-party (or “friendly”) fraud surges and financial institutions struggle to keep up. Based on insights from 416 senior executives at banks and credit unions, this research uncovers the growing operational, financial, and strategic risks tied to disputes, false claims, and AI-accelerated fraud.

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What You'll Learn in This Report

  • First-party fraud is exploding. It now accounts for 36% of reported fraud cases, costing U.S. companies an estimated $100 billion annually
  • Losses are rising—and expected to climb further. Nearly half of institutions saw fraud losses increase year over year, and two-thirds expect another increase in 2026  measurement
  • Confidence is low. Just 9% of executives say they are very confident their organization captures all fraudulent activity
  • Workloads and budgets are climbing. Fraud-related workloads are growing, and 75% of institutions expect higher fraud budgets in 2026
  • AI is both a threat and an opportunity. While more than 70% see agentic AI as a game changer for detection and prevention, 42% remain uncomfortable deploying it
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About Cornerstone Advisors

For over 20 years, Cornerstone Advisors has delivered gritty insights, bold strategies and data-driven solutions to build smarter banks, credit unions and fintechs. From technology system selection and implementation to contract negotiations, vendor management, performance improvement programs, strategic planning, merger integration and enterprise program management, Cornerstone combines its expertise with proprietary data and research to help financial institutions thrive in today’s challenging environment. For more information, visit www.crnrstone.com, connect with us on LinkedIn and Youtube, and subscribe to GonzoBanker® for our opinionated take on all things banking.