Special Alert: SLS00288

SA-72-2006

4/3/2006

Brookline Bank, Brookline, Massachusetts, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's previous name, "Brookline Savings Bank," are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 211371489, which is assigned to Brookline Bank, but the items are dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display "BROOKLINE SAVINGS BANK" in the top center above the words "Cashier's Check." "Brookline Savings Bank" also appears in the top-left corner above the bank's address. Across the top border appears: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

Authentic official checks include the words "Brookline Bank" in the top center of the check above the bank's city and state. The checks also display the statement "Issued by Travelers Express Company Drawn on U.S. Bank, St. Paul , MN " in the lower-left corner and bear the correspondent bank's routing number.

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Judy Binder
Deposit Service Manager
Brookline Bank
24 Webster Place
Brookline, MA 02445
Telephone: (617) 730-3600, ext. 3621
Fax: (617) 730-3552
Email: jbinder@brkl.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

4/3/2006

Heritage Oaks Bank, Paso Robles, California, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing a similar name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 122239982, which is assigned to Heritage Oaks Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic checks in appearance. The counterfeit items display the wording "CASHIER'S CHECK" along the left border. The bank's name appears in the top center of the item with an adjacent logo of a "1" superimposed on a United States map. The wording "TO THE ORDER OF" appears in the lower-left corner of the item.

Authentic cashier's checks display the bank's acorn logo, name and address in the top-left corner, and the words "CASHIERS CHECK" in the top center. Authentic items have an acorn logo in the center with dark green borders on all sides. Authentic checks also state "PAYABLE THROUGH PREFERRED BANK LOS ANGELES, CA."

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Joan Parr
VP/BSA Officer
Heritage Oaks Bank
545 12th Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Telephone: (805) 239-5200 ext 291
Fax: (805) 238-6257
E-mail: jparr@heritageoaksbank.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

4/3/2006

Redding Bank of Commerce, Redding, California, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 121139287, which is assigned to Redding Bank of Commerce, but they are dissimilar to authentic checks in appearance. The counterfeit items display the wording "CASHIER'S CHECK" along the left border. "Redding Bank, Austin , Texas " appears in the center of the item. Directly to the left is a logo with a "1" superimposed on a United States map. The wording "TO THE ORDER OF" appears in the lower-left corner of the item.

Authentic cashier's checks display the bank's logo, name and address in the top center, and the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear in the lower-left corner of the check. Authentic items are multi-colored with gray on the sides fading to pink in the center.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Debbie Sylvester
Senior Vice President
Chief Administrative Officer
Redding Bank of Commerce
1951 Churn Creek Road
Redding, CA 96002
Telephone: (530) 224-7324
Fax: (530) 224-7156
E-mail: debbies@reddingbankofcommerce.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

4/3/2006

Berkshire Bank, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on behalf of the former Woronoco Savings Bank, Westfield, Massachusetts, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the Woronoco Savings Bank name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 211872959, which was previously assigned to Woronoco Savings Bank and is now assigned to Berkshire Bank. Authentic official checks and money orders issued prior to Woronoco Savings Bank's merger display the routing number 091015224, which is assigned to U.S. Bank, National Association, St. Paul , Minnesota . Prior to the 2005 merger, Woronoco Savings Bank issued official checks and money orders through Travelers Express, which were drawn on U.S. Bank, National Association, St. Paul , Minnesota . The counterfeit items display a toll-free telephone number that is not associated with the bank and are referred to as "Cashier's Checks." The counterfeit items also display a branch location in Feeding Hills , Massachusetts .

Authentic official checks displayed "WORONOCO SAVINGS BANK, WESTFIELD , MASSACHUSETTS " adjacent to the bank's logo in the top-left corner of the check. In addition, authentic checks displayed the following security wording along the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY."

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic official check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Sally Angers
Corporate Security Officer- Fraud Management
Berkshire Bank
24 North Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Telephone: (413) 236-3256 (Pittsfield Office)
Telephone: (413) 413-564-6448 (Westfield Office)
Fax: (413) 448-2082
E-mail: sangers@berkshirebank.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

SA-76-2006

4/3/2006

First Security Bank of Conway, Conway, Arkansas, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 082901774, which is assigned to First Security Bank of Conway , and are very similar to authentic cashier's checks. However, on the counterfeit items, the check amount shown beneath the "PAY TO THE ORDER OF" line appears to be printed; on authentic checks, the amount is embossed. A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic cashier's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Nancy Kocourek
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
First Security Bank of Conway
1001 Front Street
Conway, Arkansas 72032
Telephone: (501) 450-1886
Fax: (501) 450-1899
E-mail: nkocourek@fsbancorp.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

4/3/2006

Bank of Stockton, Stockton, California, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing a similar name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 121101037, which is assigned to Bank of Stockton, but are dissimilar to authentic checks in appearance. The counterfeit items display the wording "CASHIER'S CHECK" along the left border. "Stockton Bank, Austin, Texas" appears on two lines in the top center of the item to the right of a logo of a "1" superimposed on a United States map. The wording "TO THE ORDER OF" appears in the lower-left corner of the item.

Authentic cashier's checks display the bank's gold scale logo and date established in the upper- left corner. The bank name and the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear in cursive script in the top center above the bank's address. Authentic items have ornate borders on all sides, gold foil on both sides, and are mint green in color.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Susan Feston
Bank of Stockton
P. O. Box 1110
Stockton, CA 95201
Telephone (209) 929-1204
Fax: (209) 465-9445
E-mail: susanjfeston@bankofstockton.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.