# AI incidents at banks: brand impersonation

Source: https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/category/brand-impersonation
Last updated: Oct 21, 2026

## How many brand impersonation AI incidents have banks had since 2022?

As of Oct 21, 2026, the register holds 11 publicly reported AI incidents at banks and fintechs in the brand impersonation category since January 2022. 5 of the 11 records involve systems the institution or a regulator described as AI; 0 are automated systems not described as AI, and 6 are machine-learning systems not labelled AI on the record. Countries: United Kingdom (2), India (2), Brazil (1). Average severity 1.0 on a 1–5 scale. Status: 2 reported, 9 confirmed by the institution. The most recent is "Deepfake image of NatWest CEO Paul Thwaite spread on X as scam bait" (Jul 3, 2026).

| Date | Institution | Incident | AI? | Role | Category | Severity | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jul 3, 2026 | NatWest Group | [Deepfake image of NatWest CEO Paul Thwaite spread on X as scam bait](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/natwest-2026-ceo-deepfake-image-scam) | ML (inferred) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Confirmed by the institution |
| Jun 3, 2026 | Monzo and Barclays | [AI-generated 'Monzo Slots' and 'Barclays Slots' casino ads impersonate UK banks on social media](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/monzo-2026-ai-fake-casino-ads) | AI (stated) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Confirmed by the institution |
| Apr 2026 | Westpac New Zealand and Kiwibank | [Deepfakes of Westpac NZ and Kiwibank chief executives used in Facebook investment-scam ads](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/westpac-nz-2026-bank-ceo-deepfake-scam-ads) | AI (stated) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Confirmed by the institution |
| Dec 9, 2025 | PKO Bank Polski | [PKO BP warns that criminals use AI to forge bank employee IDs in impersonation scams](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/pko-bp-2025-ai-fake-employee-ids) | AI (stated) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Confirmed by the institution |
| Sep 2, 2025 | Banco Popular Dominicano | [Banco Popular Dominicano reports a generative-AI deepfake of its executive president](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/banco-popular-dominicano-2025-ceo-deepfake) | AI (stated) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Confirmed by the institution |
| Jul 2025 | Banco Santander | [Deepfake ads clone Santander chair Ana Botín's voice to push fake investment platforms](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/santander-2025-botin-deepfake-investment-ads) | ML (inferred) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Reported |
| Jun 17, 2025 | Bank of Montreal (BMO Financial Group) | [Instagram ads use AI deepfakes of BMO strategist Brian Belski to lure investors](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/bmo-group-2025-belski-deepfake-investment-ads) | ML (inferred) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Reported |
| Apr 11, 2025 | Nubank (Nu Holdings) | [Deepfake videos push a fake 'Nubank indemnity' scam in Brazil](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/nubank-2025-deepfake-indemnity-scam) | ML (inferred) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Confirmed by the institution |
| Apr 2025 | Goldman Sachs | [Deepfakes of Goldman strategists David Kostin and Abby Joseph Cohen used in Instagram stock-tip scams](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/goldman-sachs-2025-strategist-deepfake-ads) | ML (inferred) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Confirmed by the institution |
| Apr 1, 2025 | Kotak Mahindra Bank | [AI-manipulated video of Uday Kotak promoting an investment scheme goes viral](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/kotak-2025-uday-kotak-deepfake-video) | ML (inferred) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Confirmed by the institution |
| Dec 16, 2024 | State Bank of India | [SBI warns that deepfake videos of its top management are promoting investment scams](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/sbi-2024-executive-deepfake-investment-videos) | AI (stated) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1/5 | Confirmed by the institution |

The register: https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents

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Part of [BankingNewsAI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/) — the register of AI incidents at banks: https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents. Markdown versions of every reference page: append `.md` to the page URL; index at https://www.bankingnewsai.com/llms.txt.