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Special Alerts

SA-179-2005
November 30, 2005


TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)
SUBJECT: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks
Summary: Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Northway Bank, Berlin, New Hampshire, (formerly known as The Berlin City Bank) are reportedly in circulation.

Northway Bank, Berlin, New Hampshire, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's former name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 011700425, which is assigned to Northway Bank. However, authentic checks are issued by Integrated Payment Systems, Englewood, Colorado, and use the routing number 102000979, which is assigned to JP Morgan Chase Bank, Denver, Colorado. Also, authentic checks are referred to as official checks, while the counterfeit items use the term cashier's checks. The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic official checks in format. Authentic checks display the wording official check in the top-center portion of the check; the counterfeit items display the bank's former name in that location. A copy of a counterfeit item and an authentic cashier's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

The Berlin City Bank and Pemigewasset National Bank merged effective October 1, 2005. The resulting bank was named Northway Bank. Therefore, use caution when handling any checks bearing the bank's former names issued after the merger date.

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

Yolanda Kelley
Security Officer
Northway Bank
P.O. Box 9
Berlin, New Hampshire
Telephone: (603) 752-1171 Extension 2709
Fax: (603) 752-4620
E-mail: ykelley@northwaybank.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/2005/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.
  Christopher J. Spoth
  Acting Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site online copies of fraudulent instruments or copies of the genuine instruments that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use the electronic versions of these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Printed copies of fraudulent instruments are mailed with the Special Alert letter to the financial institutions on the letter's distribution list (generally, FDIC-supervised banks – commercial and savings). Printed copies of the Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (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)

Last Updated 7/2/2009 communications@fdic.gov