Fraudsters, beware — business banking solutions just got a whole lot smarter.
In Alkami’s webinar on the Top 5 Business Banking Trends Shaping 2025, we took a deep dive into what’s becoming the financial equivalent of a superhero origin story: how banks and credit unions are combining tech, data, and sheer brainpower to reduce risk and prevent fraud. It’s not just about locking the doors — it’s about installing a security system and training your business clients how to spot a scam from a mile away.
Trend #3, “Reducing Risk & Preventing Fraud,” is turning out to be less about fear and more about fortification. Here’s how the experts are tackling today’s growing risks — and making fraudsters’ lives much harder.
As business banking becomes more digital, security threats are evolving just as fast — if not faster. We’re not just talking about a forged vendor check sneaking through; we’re in the era of cyberattacks on corporate accounts, fraudulent ACH transactions, and account takeovers targeting entire treasury operations. This isn’t petty theft — this is big-league fraud with high stakes for businesses of all sizes.
But here’s the plot twist: instead of getting spooked, financial institutions are getting smarter.
“One of the other things we use data analytics for is reducing risk and preventing fraud,” said Jeff Luczak of Landmark Credit Union. “We use BioCatch to monitor behavioral analytics in online banking. It identifies unusual patterns in real time, warning us or even blocking transactions if something appears suspicious.”
Behavioral biometrics? That’s right — your financial institution can now tell if it’s really your Chief Financial Officer logging in to the business banking platform, just by how they move the mouse or type a password. For business accounts with higher transaction volumes and multiple users, these subtle behavioral cues can make a big difference in catching fraud before it happens.
If you’ve worked in business banking, you’ve definitely heard of positive pay solutions. But here’s the real issue: many financial institutions are still treating it like a safety net instead of a front-line defense. That’s like installing a security camera after someone’s already cleaned out the vault.
Driving adoption — especially among business clients — is critical. Positive pay only works if your commercial clients are actually using it. Kyle Guest from Mountain America Credit Union hit the nail on the head:
“One mistake some financial institutions make is using it reactively—after fraud happens. We’ve taken a proactive approach, ensuring our team highlights positive pay to customers during onboarding and throughout the relationship.”
It’s not just about offering the tool — it’s about embedding it into the business banking experience from day one. Educating business clients on how positive pay protects their accounts, and making it easy to enroll and manage, helps close the adoption gap.
At Landmark Credit Union, Jeff Luczak shared their next step:
“We plan to implement teller-line positive pay in 2025. As long as checks exist, check fraud will remain a challenge. Adding teller-line protection strengthens our defenses, especially when cashing checks at the branch.”
So yes — checks might feel old school. But fraudsters haven’t let them go, and that makes check fraud a very real, very current problem. By pushing adoption of tools like check positive pay and expanding its reach to every channel — even the teller line — financial institutions are staying one step ahead.
Security is no longer about just locking your password behind a CAPTCHA wall and calling it a day. For business accounts — which often involve larger balances, multiple users, and sensitive financial data — strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s non-negotiable.
As Kyle pointed out, MFA is only as strong as the weakest link — and sometimes, that link is a very hackable email address.
“We found the breakdown was in MFA,” he shared. “Many members relied on email-based MFA, which is vulnerable… We’ve since removed email as an option and transitioned to text-based or authenticator app methods.”
This shift is especially important in business banking solutions, where compromised credentials don’t just result in a few unauthorized charges — they can lead to full-scale account takeovers, payroll fraud, or fraudulent wire transfers. And while email MFA might be convenient, it’s often tied to devices or platforms that fraudsters can access with minimal effort.
For commercial clients, weak MFA is a liability. But stronger options — like authenticator apps or device-based tokens — help ensure the person initiating a high-risk transaction is actually who they claim to be.
And let’s not forget: business banking often involves multiple users accessing the same account — bookkeepers, finance teams, owners, external accountants. Role-based access and granular sub-user management can significantly reduce internal and external risk.
Proactive institutions are already tightening the reins. Not just by removing vulnerable MFA options, but by:
These upgrades aren’t just about checking a security box — they’re about protecting real businesses from real losses.
All the tools in the world won’t help if business clients don’t use them. That’s where education comes in — and according to Samantha Pause of Mascoma Bank, it might just be the most powerful weapon in the anti-fraud arsenal.
“Many customers are unprepared to understand the risks they’re taking on,” Samantha said. “While we’re trying to address this through lunch-and-learns and other outreach, we’re also exploring ways to use data to identify customers who might be more vulnerable.”
Clicking a suspicious link or approving a fraudulent invoice doesn’t just result in a headache — it can mean real financial loss, reputational damage, and disruption to daily operations. That’s why education is such a powerful tool.
By providing ongoing resources, training, and proactive outreach, financial institutions can help clients build internal processes that prevent fraud before it starts. Whether it’s through virtual sessions, lunch-and-learns, or tailored risk assessments, the goal is to turn awareness into action — and clients into stronger partners in the fight against fraud.
Trend #1 — Modernizing Processes through Digital Innovation — set the stage. Financial institutions are no longer clinging to outdated systems; they’re investing in secure, user-friendly platforms that actually work.
Trend #2 — Leveraging Data Analytics — gave them the tools. How banks and credit unions use data to predict needs, prevent risks, and strengthen business banking relationships is no longer a future goal — it’s happening right now. From analyzing user behavior to spotting red flags in transaction history, institutions are using data not just to stop fraud, but to better serve their business clients before problems even arise.
As Jeff Luczak from Landmark put it:
“Sometimes, members don’t know to ask us for certain solutions, so we proactively inform them. This has been critical in positioning Landmark as their go-to financial institution.”
It’s data with a purpose — not just crunching numbers, but crafting meaningful, secure, and trusted banking experiences.
Trend #3? That’s the action sequence. Using innovation and analytics, institutions are proactively tackling fraud head-on — with tech like BioCatch, smarter MFA, transaction monitoring, and of course, positive pay that actually lives up to its name.
Here’s the big takeaway: fraud prevention is no longer about building walls. It’s about building resilience — through tools, technology, and teaching.
Because if your business banking solutions aren’t working for you, they might just be working against you.
And let’s be real — in 2025, nobody has time for that.
So what’s next? Well, stay tuned for Trend #4: Building Profitable Relationships. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about the bottom line — it’s about building trust that lasts longer than a phishing scam’s shelf life.
