In the first quarter of 2015, it said that 0.89% of applications for current accounts came from criminals.
The figures mean that bank accounts have overtaken mortgages as the biggest source of attempted fraud.
In comparison, 0.83% of mortgage applications were fraudulent over the same period.
The
main reason for the rise was "an exponential increase" in identity
fraud, when criminals use somebody else's personal details to set up an
account.
Of those trying to open accounts fraudulently, 49% used a
stolen identity. That was up from 32% in the first three months of
2014, said Experian.
The firm is employed by many High Street banks to detect criminal activity.
Phishing
Criminals
opening current accounts are then able to access other financial
products, such as credit cards, which are also used to steal money.
Many
will have obtained personal details through phishing emails, which
trick account holders into revealing numbers and passwords.
"Knowing
what your bank can and cannot ask you for will help you avoid phishing
scams," said Nick Mothershaw, a director of identity and fraud at
Experian.
"Making sure sensitive mail is shredded is also important."
Customers
who are the innocent victims of fraud are usually reimbursed by their
bank. Nevertheless account holders are being warned to be vigilant.
"It's
important to be alert, so if you get a call, text or email out of the
blue, don't reveal any information unless you are absolutely sure who
you are dealing with," said Jon Sacker, of Financial Fraud Action UK.
Action Fraud, which works alongside the Police, recently said that a third of people fail to take sufficient measures to protect their online details.
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