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Special Alerts

SA-31-2004
April 12, 2004


TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)
SUBJECT: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks
Summary: Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Kearny Federal Savings Bank, Kearny, New Jersey, and Highlands Independent Bank, Sebring, Florida, are reportedly in circulation.

Kearny Federal Savings Bank, Kearny, New Jersey, has reported to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) that counterfeit cashier's checks are in circulation. The counterfeit instruments are drawn upon the bank and display the proper routing number of 044015543. However, the counterfeit instruments are markedly different from the authentic official checks. The authentic official checks have a bank logo in the upper left-hand corner of the check that is printed in solid blue, and the check number in the upper right-hand corner of the check is printed in black. Conversely, the bank logo on the counterfeit instruments has red stripes following the blue star, and the check number is printed in red. A copy of an authentic official check (void) and a copy of a counterfeit check are attached for your review.

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

    Mr. Allen Cronheim
    Security Officer
    Kearny Federal Savings Bank
    614 Kearny Avenue
    Kearny, New Jersey 07032-0604
    Telephone: (732) 606-0864
    Fax: (732) 606-1977
Highlands Independent Bank, Sebring, Florida, has also reported to the FDIC that counterfeit cashier's checks are in circulation. The counterfeit instruments are drawn upon the bank, payable through U.S. Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota, and display the proper routing number of 096016765. The counterfeit instruments closely resemble the authentic checks; however, the counterfeit items display "PAYABLE THROUGH FIRSTAR BANK OF MINNESOTA, N.A., ST. PAUL, MN" in the lower left-hand corner of the check, while the authentic checks properly display "PAYABLE THROUGH U.S. BANK, ST. PAUL, MN." A copy of an authentic official check (void) and a copy of a counterfeit check are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:
    Ms. Hazel Steedley
    Senior Vice President
    Highlands Independent Bank
    P.O. Box 2027
    Sebring, Florida 33871-2027
    Telephone: (863) 385-8700
    Fax: (863) 385-1071
Information concerning these financial institutions or instruments may be forwarded to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, N.W, Room F-4040, Washington, DC 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/2004/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts, Financial Institution Letters and other announcements through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/news/news/announcements/index.html.

Michael J. Zamorski

Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection

Attachments (not available electronically)

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

NOTE: Paper copies of FDIC Special Alerts may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (1-877-275-3342 or (703) 562-2200).


Last Updated 4/12/2004 communications@fdic.gov

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