Financial Fraud Detection in the Banking Sector Using Machine Learning: An Exhaustive Systematic Review.

Abstract

In recent years, the application of machine learning techniques for detecting financial fraud within the banking sector has experienced a remarkable increase. This paper seeks to highlight this progress and emphasize its impact on enhancing fraud prevention and control systems. The objective of this paper is to explore, determine, and identify the current state of knowledge regarding the use of machine learning in financial fraud detection in the banking sector. This study was based on 61 papers selected from six major digital libraries: IEEE Xplore, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, ARDI, and Web of Science. Only peer-reviewed journal papers were included. The systematic review covered publications between 2019 and 2025, available in open-access databases, focusing on the use of machine learning in detecting financial fraud in the banking sector. The findings from the 61 reviewed papers indicate that the most widely used programming language for machine learning solutions is Scala. Additionally, tools implemented in fraud detection and gaps in model comparison were identified. It is recommended to explore more recent approaches and banking contexts that have not yet been addressed.