Akira Ransomware Gang Claims Breach of Historic Bank of Romney in the US
Published
- Bank attack: The West Virginia Bank of Romney was reportedly targeted by Akira Ransomware.
- What was stolen: The threat actor reportedly exfiltrated employee, financial, client, and accounting information.
- Exposed data: No data was leaked at the moment, but the threat actor stated it will soon happen.
The Akira ransomware gang has claimed responsibility for compromising The Bank of Romney, a 137-year-old financial institution serving Hampshire County, West Virginia, on September 3, 2025, announcing that file samples are to be leaked soon.
Attack Attribution and Threat Intelligence
This time, the Akira ransomware gang, which was first discovered in early 2023, withheld specific details regarding the volume of exfiltrated data from The Bank of Romney and refrained from publishing sample files on their dark web infrastructure, possibly to maximize negotiation leverage while minimizing premature exposure of sensitive customer information.
However, the post announces corporate data is to be released, which will allegedly include financial, client, and accounting information, as well as employee files.
The Bank of Romney, established in 1888, holds significant historical importance as Hampshire County's oldest and largest banking institution. This name was added among several other companies to the group’s claimed victim list on September 3.
Other notable Akira claims made the news in spring 2025, such as a cyberattack on Spain’s STE Group that resulted in the alleged exfiltration of 30GB of data and a Laboratorios Belloch data breach that allegedly exposed sensitive data.
Regional Cybersecurity Implications
Regional banks often operate with limited cybersecurity budgets and personnel, creating attractive opportunities for ransomware attack operations seeking high-value targets with potentially reduced defensive capabilities.
Financial institutions in rural markets frequently maintain extensive customer databases containing personally identifiable information, banking credentials, and transaction histories that represent significant value to cybercriminal organizations.Â
The Bank of Romney's potential breach underscores the critical importance of enhanced cybersecurity measures for community banks serving vulnerable populations.
Industry experts emphasize the necessity for comprehensive incident response planning and regular security assessments to mitigate similar attack vectors.
In July, the Axis Max Life insurance unit of Axis Bank and Max Financial Services India announced a data breach, and the LogoKit phishing kit was seen targeting government, banking, and logistics sectors.
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