Special Alert: SLS00312

Metropolitan National Bank, Little Rock, Arkansas, has contacted the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the bank's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with a lottery scam. Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit items contains the letterhead of "British International Lotto, 11500 New Cross Road, London SE 16, England." The letter alerts recipients of their winning status and provides instructions to contact their agent.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 082001247, which is assigned to Metropolitan National Bank. The counterfeit items presented to date have been similar to authentic checks. However, the counterfeit items have a dark top border with the following security statement embedded: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." In addition, the top border contains rounded corners that drop off toward the sides of the check.

For additional information or to verify the authenticity of the check, please contact:

Mike Shepard
Security Officer
Metropolitan National Bank
425 W Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone: (501) 377-7635
Fax: (501) 377-7640
E-mail: mshepard@metbank.com

Additional information concerning this matter may be brought to the OCC's attention at:

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.

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

Columbia River Bank, The Dalles, Oregon, 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 122037760, which is assigned to First Regional Bank, Los Angeles, California. Columbia River Bank issues official checks through a payable- through account held at First Regional Bank. The counterfeit items appear to be associated with a scam, whereby a letter instructs the recipient to deposit the "check" and call the sender of the letter for further instructions.

The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic checks in appearance. The counterfeit items are light blue and have a dark blue top border with rounded edges. The counterfeit items also have black lettering. The following security statement is embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

Authentic checks have dark borders on all four sides. The following statement appears just below the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT HAS A MICROPRINT SIGNATURE LINE. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES INDICATES A COPY."

Copies of a counterfeit item and authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items may be modified and that additional variations are possible.

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

Tammy Hoffmann
Compliance Officer
Columbia River Bank
401 East Third Street
The Dalles, Oregon 97058
Telephone: (541) 298-3156
Fax: (541) 298-3154
E-mail: THoffman@columbiariverbank.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.

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center (telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200; fax: 703-562-2296; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

First-Knox National Bank, Mount Vernon, Ohio, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit money orders bearing the bank's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 011007092, which is assigned to MoneyGram
Payment Systems, Inc., the company that issues money orders on behalf of the bank. The counterfeit
items are very similar to authentic money orders. However, the counterfeit items include an area for
"REMITTER" information in the lower-left corner, while authentic money orders do not include a
designated area for remitter information.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic money order (VOID) are attached for your review. Be
aware that the appearance of counterfeit items can be modified and that additional variations may be
presented.

To verify that a money order is valid, contact:

Karen Mill
Finance Supervisor
1 South Main Street
Post Office Box 1270
Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050
Phone: (740) 399-5253
Fax: (740) 399-5300
E-mail: kmill@firstknox.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.

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center (telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200; fax: 703-562-2296; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

Security State Bank, Anahuac, Texas, 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 113109128, which is assigned to Security State Bank.

There are two versions of counterfeit items. Neither version is similar to authentic cashier's checks in appearance. One version is printed on paper with a solid blue background. The other version has a marbled background with the following security description embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." Both versions of counterfeit items display a square logo centered at the top next to the bank's name and address.

Authentic cashier's checks are grey and display an oval logo centered at the top next to the bank's name and address. Printed below the dollar amount line is the statement: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND, FOIL ACCENT AND A BACKSIDE AUTHENTICATION WATERMARK. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY."

Copies of the counterfeit items and authentic checks (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items may be modified and that additional variations are possible.

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

Debbie Standley
Vice President & Cashier
Security State Bank
P.O. Box 429
Anahuac, Texas 77514-0429
Phone: (409) 267-3171
Fax: (409) 267-6749
E-mail: dstandley@ssbanahuac.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.

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center (telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200; fax: 703-562-2296; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

Citizens Community Federal, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 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 071004501, which is assigned to the Federal Home Loan Bank, Chicago, Illinois. Citizens Community Federal issues checks through the Federal Home Loan Bank. The counterfeit items are similar to authentic checks issued by the bank's Altoona, Wisconsin, branch. The following statement is embedded in the top border of the counterfeit items: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." Embedded in the top border of authentic checks is the following statement: "THIS CHECK HAS VARIOUS SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDING COLORED BACKGROUND, MICROPRINTING & LINED WATERMARK."

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware
that the appearance of counterfeit items may be modified and that additional variations are possible.

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

Becky Johnson
Vice President
Citizens Community Federal
2174 East Ridge Center
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701
Telephone: (715) 836-9994, ext 120
Fax: (715) 831-4299
E-mail: blj@citizenscommunityfederal.net

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.

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center (telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200; fax: 703-562-2296; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)