Special Alert: SLS00331

Bank Reale, Pasco, Washington, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are reportedly associated with a mystery shopper scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number of 125108793, which is assigned to Bank Reale, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic bank checks. The counterfeit items display the bank name, logo, a telephone number, which is not associated with the bank, and the wording "IN ORGANIZATION" in the top-left corner. The counterfeit items also display security wording embedded within the top and bottom borders. In the center of the item is a rectangle with six arrows pointing toward the bank name and dollar amount. The wording "MATCH THE AMOUNT IN WORDS WITH THE AMOUNT IN NUMBERS" is embedded in the center of the item.

Authentic checks display the bank name, logo, address and a telephone number in the upper left- hand corner. "CASHIER'S CHECK" is encapsulated and centered within the top border with the following statement centered beneath: "AS A CONDITION TO THIS INSTITUTION'S ISSUANCE OF THIS CHECK, PURCHASER AGREES TO PROVIDE AN INDEMNITY BOND PRIOR TO THE REFUND OR REPLACEMENT OF THIS CHECK IN THE EVENT IT IS LOST, MISPLACED OR STOLEN."

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

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

Deposit Operations
Bank Reale
5205 Road 68
Pasco, Washington 99301-9275
Telephone: (509) 545-6360
Fax: (509) 545-9960
E-mail: info@bankreale.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)

Union State Bank, Nanuet, New York, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the bank's name, with a New York , New York , address, are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 021905977, which is assigned to Union State Bank, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items include "USB" and the bank's name within a rectangle in the upper-left corner. Directly below the rectangle is a branch address of " 11 EAST 22ND STREET , NEW YORK , NY 10010 " and a telephone number, which is not associated with the bank. Centered at the top of the counterfeit items are the words "CASHIER'S CHECK." The counterfeit items display a box for the dollar amount with the following statement directly below the box: "VOID AFTER 90 DAYS." Additionally, the counterfeit items include a "DRAWER" field above the only authorized signature line in the lower-right corner.

Authentic checks display a "USB" logo, the bank's name and location in the lower-left corner. Authentic checks have a tile-pattern background consisting of the "USB" logo, and the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are printed in the top-left corner. Additionally, printed beneath the dollar amount line and above the two signature lines is the following statement: "AMOUNTS $50,000 AND ABOVE REQUIRE TWO SIGNATURES."

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

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

Gerald M. Kilduff
Senior Vice President
Union State Bank
100 Dutch Hill Road
Orangeburg, New York 10962
Telephone: (845) 365-4661
Fax: (845) 365-4713
E-mail: gkilduff@unionstate.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)

Central Bank, Lebanon, Missouri, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the name The Huntington National Bank, Columbus , Ohio , and the routing number assigned to Central Bank , Lebanon , Missouri , are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 081502815, which is assigned to Central Bank. Except for having the same routing number, the counterfeit items bear no resemblance to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display " Huntington " centered at the top and directly beneath a hexagon-shaped logo. In the lower-left corner, the items include an issuer and payee in the following order: "ISSUED BY: TRAVELERS EXPRESS COMPANY, INC." and "BOSTON SAFE DEPOSIT & TRUST CO."

Authentic checks display the bank's name and location in the top-center portion. Authentic checks have no reference to The Huntington National Bank, Travelers Express Company, Inc., or to Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co.

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

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

Donita Price
Vice President - Operations
Central Bank
101 West Commercial Street
P.O. Box 31
Lebanon, Missouri 65536
Telephone: (417) 532-2151, extension 259
Fax: (417) 532-2001
E-mail: dprice@central-bank.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 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)

North Valley Bank, Thornton, Colorado, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are reportedly associated with a lottery scam and are included with letters notifying the recipient of lottery winnings.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 107005076, which is assigned to North Valley Bank. The counterfeit items are similar to authentic cashier's checks; however, the counterfeit items have security wording embedded in the top border.

Authentic cashier's checks display the bank's mountain logo over the bank's name in the top-left corner.

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

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

MyrtleAnn Watson
Vice President
North Valley Bank
9001 N. Washington Street
Thornton, Colorado 80229
Telephone: (303) 452-5500
Fax: (303) 452-7430
E-mail: mwatson@nvbank.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)

First Bank of Northern Kentucky, Inc., Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 042102254, which is assigned to First Bank of Northern Kentucky, Inc. They also display the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" in the top center below the words "VOID AFTER 12 MONTHS." The bank's name and address appear in the top-left corner; however, the bank's name is misspelled. A description of security features is embedded in the top border.

Authentic checks display the bank's logo, name and address in the upper left corner. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are displayed in the top center above the statement "VOID AFTER 12 MONTHS" in parenthesis.

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

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

Mr. Stacey Dickerson
Security Officer
First Bank of Northern Kentucky, Inc.
350 Buttermilk Pike
Fort Mitchell, Kentucky 41017
Telephone: (859) 426-2234
Fax: (859) 578-7486
E-mail: sdickerson@fbnoky.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)