The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is providing the following information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to financial institutions:

The FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and state and local authorities are investigating more than 30 threatening letters that have been received by financial institutions in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Most of these letters contain a powder substance with a threatening communication. At this point, field and laboratory tests on the powder have been negative. Financial institutions that receive one of these letters at any location (e.g., corporate office, branch office, etc.) should contact their local FBI office and ask for the WMD Coordinator.

FDIC-supervised financial institutions also should notify their FDIC regional office if they receive a threatening letter.

Mail center security and screening recommendations are available from the U.S. Postal Service at http://www.usps.com/communications/news/security/welcome.htm.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2009/index.html

To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts via e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Distribution: FDIC-supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

Paper copies of FDIC Special Alerts may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200.