Banking Fraud Amount Surges 30% YoY in FY26 Till September 2025: RBI Report

Banking fraud amounts reportedly rose 30% in April-September FY26, even as fewer cases were reported during the period.  

Data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shows frauds worth ₹21,515 crore were reported between April and September, compared with ₹16,569 crore in the same period last year. 

The figures indicate that while fewer fraud incidents were recorded, the value of individual cases was higher during the period. 

Advances Remain Main Source of Losses 

Frauds linked to advances accounted for the bulk of the amount involved. The value of advance-related frauds stood at ₹17,501 crore in FY26 till September, up from ₹15,521 crore a year earlier. 

This category continued to outweigh other forms of fraud in value terms, even though it accounted for fewer cases compared with card and internet-related incidents. 

Number of Fraud Cases Declines Sharply 

The number of fraud cases reported by banks during April-September FY26 fell to 5,092, compared with 18,386 cases in the corresponding period of the previous year.  

The decline in volume contrasts with the rise in the total amount involved, showing a shift towards fewer, higher-value cases. 

A similar pattern was visible in 2024–25, where banks reported a lower number of frauds overall, but the total amount involved increased. 

Re-Reporting Lifted Fraud Amount in FY25 

According to the RBI, the increase in the value of frauds reported in FY25 was mainly due to the re-examination and fresh reporting of certain cases.  

Banks reported 122 fraud cases involving ₹18,336 crore after ensuring compliance with a Supreme Court judgment dated March 27, 2023. 

This re-reporting exercise led to a spike in the amount involved, even though the total number of cases declined during the year. 

Card and Internet Frauds Dominate by Count 

Based on the date of occurrence in FY25, card and internet-related frauds made up 66.8% of the total number of fraud cases. However, these accounted for a smaller share of the total amount involved. 

In value terms, frauds linked to advances remained the largest contributor, accounting for 33.1% of the total amount reported during the year. 

Bank-Wise Distribution of Frauds 

Private sector banks accounted for 59.3% of the total number of fraud cases reported in FY25. Within this group, card and internet-related frauds formed the largest share by number. 

Public sector banks, on the other hand, accounted for 70.7% of the total fraud amount. Advance-related frauds dominated in these banks, both in terms of the number of cases and the amount involved. 

The RBI also noted that the share of card and internet frauds declined across all bank groups during 2024-25, both by number and value. 

Read More: PNB Share Price in Focus; Reports ₹2,434 Crore Borrowal Fraud to RBI about Former SREI Promoters! 

Conclusion 

The RBI data shows that while banks are reporting fewer fraud cases, the financial exposure remains elevated due to large-value frauds, particularly those linked to advances. 

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