HIGHLIGHTS:

• 22 percent of US consumers will close an account after a fraud incident, while 29 percent of Millennials will close all accounts with that bank, according to a new FICO survey.

• 14 percent of US consumers say they have written a negative social media post about a fraud incident. This is a 100 percent increase on the number who would do so a year ago.

• 25 percent of Millennials will write a negative post on social media about a fraud incident.

• 41 percent of Millennials recommended their bank to friends, family, and colleagues after a positively handled fraud incident, compared with 25 percent of 35-49 year olds.

• 40 percent of banking customers say their bank does not protect them from identity theft at all times.

FICO's latest research on consumer banking trends has revealed that 22 percent of US consumers will close an account after a fraud incident, while 29 percent of Millennials will close all accounts with that bank. The survey shows how quickly attitudes are shifting when it comes to customers and their expectations of how fraud should be handled by banks.

TJ Horan, Vice President of Product Management at FICO, said, "Consumers will reward banks that save them the hassle or at a minimum reduce the pain of fraud. The way a fraud incident is handled can make or break a customer's relationship with the bank, as well as influence its reputation among the customer's peers."

This is especially true among the 25-34 year old age bracket. The survey revealed that 25 percent feel strongly enough to make a negative comment on social media if a fraud incident is not handled well. A further 21 percent will actively discourage a friend, family member or colleague from using the bank after a fraud incident.

However, the opposite is also true: Among Millennial customers who say they experienced fraud in the past year, 41 percent recommended the bank to friends, family, and colleagues after a positive fraud management experience while 34 percent went on to add new accounts with the same bank.

"This demonstrates that, contrary to popular perceptions, Millennials exhibit brand loyalty when presented with a favorable experience," said Horan. "Increasingly, peer reviews are more influential than any advertising or marketing program, especially with Millennials who now represent 80 million US customers, and represent US$200 billion in annual buying power. This is why the most successful banks have recognized fraud is more than a cost-containment problem, and are investing in state-of-the-art fraud management platforms that give the customer a greater sense of ownership and control."

The visibility of fraud, data breaches and other financial crimes in the news in the last 18 months has primed the issue with consumers.

"Consumers are looking for greater protection from fraud and sophisticated identity theft. The identities of an estimated nine million Americans are stolen each year. Combined with the sharp increase in ATM compromises we reported last month, it's clear that fraud prevention and communication are more vital than ever," said Horan.

Banks are ramping up fraud prevention efforts that empower customers. They are launching education campaigns, consumer-driven card protection services, identity theft units and tailored customer communications. Despite this, the FICO survey showed that 40 percent of banking customers in the US don't believe their bank can provide protection from identity theft to them at all times.

"There is a strong desire from consumers to participate in fighting fraud through methods such as better alerts and communication with their banks," Horan concluded. "By closing this loop with their bank, consumers can help to protect themselves."

FICO conducted the online survey of approximately 1,000 US consumers over the age of 17 in October and November 2015. Data was weighted by age and region to reflect U.S. Census data.