OrboGraph’s AI Award Signals Real-World Impact on Financial Security

BURLINGTON, MA – March 27, 2026 – In a move that underscores the growing maturity of artificial intelligence in critical financial infrastructure, Burlington-based OrboGraph has been named a winner in the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards. The company received the honor in the Fraud Detection and Prevention category for its advanced Anywhere Deposit Fraud solution, a platform designed to combat the rising tide of sophisticated check fraud.

The award, presented by the Business Intelligence Group, celebrates organizations that are successfully moving AI from experimental labs into practical, high-impact deployments. OrboGraph’s recognition highlights a significant trend: the use of advanced AI not just as a futuristic concept, but as an essential, front-line tool for securing the financial ecosystem against increasingly clever criminal tactics.

The Soaring Threat of an Old Crime

While digital payments dominate headlines, the humble paper check has re-emerged as a primary target for fraudsters, posing a significant and growing threat to financial institutions and their customers. Far from being a relic of the past, check fraud has seen a dramatic resurgence. According to recent data from the U.S. Treasury Department, incidents of check fraud have skyrocketed by an astonishing 385% since the pandemic began.

This is not a low-stakes problem. The American Bankers Association reported that check fraud constituted nearly half of all deposit account fraud losses in recent years, with attempted fraud values reaching into the tens of billions annually. The drivers behind this surge are multifaceted. A well-documented increase in mail theft, including robberies targeting postal carriers, has put a steady supply of legitimate checks into criminal hands. These stolen checks are then often “washed” of their original ink and rewritten for fraudulent purposes.

Simultaneously, the convenience of digital banking channels, such as mobile remote deposit capture (mRDC) and ATM deposits, has created new avenues for exploitation. Fraudsters leverage these self-service systems to deposit altered, forged, or counterfeit checks, hoping to withdraw the funds before the fraud is detected. Compounding the issue is the advent of generative AI, which has democratized the ability to create highly convincing counterfeit documents. These AI-generated fakes can mimic bank logos, fonts, and layouts with a realism that often fools both human reviewers and older, rules-based detection systems.

A New Standard in Digital Forensics

It is this challenging environment that OrboGraph’s Anywhere Deposit Fraud solution was built to address. The award-winning platform moves beyond traditional fraud detection methods by employing a sophisticated, multi-layered approach rooted in deep learning and image forensics.

At the heart of the system is OrbNet Forensic AI, a technology that functions like a digital crime scene investigator for check images. Instead of just reading the amount or payee name, it performs a microscopic analysis of the check's visual data. This allows it to identify subtle signs of fraud that are invisible to the naked eye.

The system's capabilities are broken down into several specialized AI analyzers:

• Check Stock Validation (CSV-AI): This module scrutinizes the pre-printed elements of a check, such as the bank logo, fractional routing number, and background security features. It compares these against a known database to detect counterfeit items that may otherwise appear legitimate.

• Automated Signature Verification (ASV-AI): Going far beyond a simple visual match, this AI analyzes the underlying characteristics of a signature—pressure, speed, and stroke formation—by activating over 500 distinct feature vectors. It compares a presented signature against a historical profile for the account, flagging anomalies indicative of forgery.

• Alteration Detection (AD-AI): This component is specifically designed to combat check washing. It analyzes the consistency of the handwriting, ink, and background to spot areas where original information has been erased and replaced.

By combining these forensic techniques with behavioral analytics that monitor transaction patterns, the platform creates a robust defense grid. OrboGraph reports that its technology achieves detection rates exceeding 95% on targeted fraud use cases, enabling financial institutions to stop fraudulent transactions before losses occur.

From Hype to Impact: Validating AI's Role in Security

The 2026 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award serves as a powerful validation of this approach. The Business Intelligence Group’s awards are judged not on novelty alone, but on tangible results and the ability to solve meaningful problems. The selection process, conducted by a panel of experienced business executives, is designed to identify technologies that deliver quantifiable value.

“AI has arrived! 2026 is about execution, accountability, and results,” stated Russ Fordyce, Chief Recognition Officer for the Business Intelligence Group. “OrboGraph stood out because its work in Fraud Detection and Prevention reflects where the market is headed: practical AI that solves real problems, earns trust, and delivers measurable value. This recognition highlights a team that is not just participating in the AI shift, but helping define what meaningful progress looks like.”

This sentiment reflects a broader maturation in the AI industry. For years, discussions around artificial intelligence were dominated by hype and theoretical potential. Now, the focus has shifted to practical application and return on investment. OrboGraph's success demonstrates that specialized AI, when expertly applied to a specific and critical problem, can provide an effective and reliable solution that strengthens business operations and protects consumers.

A Strategic Imperative for Financial Institutions

For the more than 4,000 financial institutions and corporations that OrboGraph serves, the adoption of such technology is becoming a strategic imperative. As fraudsters continue to innovate and weaponize new tools, banks and credit unions can no longer rely on legacy systems or manual review processes alone. The sheer volume and sophistication of modern fraud attempts demand an automated, intelligent, and adaptive defense.

“We are honored to be recognized in the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards for our work in Fraud Detection and Prevention,” said Joe Gregory, Chief Strategy Officer at OrboGraph. “This award reflects the strength of our AI technology, the expertise of our team, and our commitment to helping financial institutions stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraud threats. We believe the future of AI in financial services lies in delivering real-world outcomes, and Anywhere Deposit Fraud is a testament to that mission.”

By integrating advanced AI like the Anywhere Deposit Fraud solution, financial institutions can not only mitigate direct financial losses but also improve operational efficiency by automating detection processes and reducing the burden of false positives on human fraud analysts. In an era where trust is paramount, leveraging cutting-edge technology to secure customer deposits across all channels is no longer just a best practice—it is fundamental to maintaining a secure and resilient financial system.