Each depositor insured to at least $250,000 per insured bank

Branson Bank, Branson, Missouri, 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 display the routing number 081518919, which is assigned to Branson Bank. The items are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks and display a "VOID" background when copied. The bank's name, logo, name (repeated) and the statements "Payable through Branson Bank, Branson, MO" and "For inquiries call 1-866-501-3141"are in the top-left corner. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" and an indemnity bond statement are centered below the top border. A security feature statement is along the bottom border between two padlocks. Two signature lines are in the lower-right corner, with "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" printed below the first line and "COUNTERSIGNED" printed below the second line. The statement "PAY TO THE ORDER OF" is shown on the left side.

Authentic cashier's checks are light green and white speckled with dark green borders. The bank's logo, name, city, state, zip code and the word "Remitter" appear in the lower-left corner. A rectangle contains the numeric dollar amount on the right side. A padlock icon appears within a vertical security feature statement along the right border. Two signature lines are in the lower-right corner, with "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" printed below the second line." The wording "To the Order of" is shown on the left side.

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:

Cindy LeBlanc
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
Branson Bank
1501 State Highway 248
Branson, Missouri 65616
Telephone: (417) 334-9696
Fax: (417) 334-1349
E-mail: cindy@bransonbank.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. Questions 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/2008/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)