# AI incidents at NatWest Group plc

Source: https://www.bankingnewsai.com/banks/natwest/ai-incidents
Last updated: Oct 21, 2026

## Has NatWest Group plc had a publicly reported AI incident?

Yes: 1 publicly reported AI incident on record since January 2022.

| 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 |

### Deepfake image of NatWest CEO Paul Thwaite spread on X as scam bait

City AM reported on 3 July 2026 that multiple accounts on X shared a deepfake picture of NatWest Group chief executive Paul Thwaite alongside journalist Emily Maitlis, staged to look like a BBC radio interview, with captions such as "On air, Emily Maitlis raised the NatWest CEO's salary, causing a strong reaction." A NatWest spokesperson said the bank was working closely with social media platforms to remove the false images and called them "another reminder of criminal activity designed to defraud people – especially the vulnerable". The image followed deepfake videos of Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey and Nigel Farage in June 2026. No customer losses linked to the image have been reported, and the record does not describe where the posts led.

https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-incidents/natwest-2026-ceo-deepfake-image-scam

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