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

Community State Bank, Starke, Florida, 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 063106352, which is assigned to Community State Bank. The bank's name, street address, and city name ("STARKE" is misspelled as "STARKS") appear in the top-left corner. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" and a toll-free telephone number, not associated with the bank, are shown near the top center. The words "DATE" and "AMOUNT" are embedded in darkened boxes on the right side. Two signature lines and a security padlock icon are also displayed on the right side.

Authentic checks display the bank's logo, name, P.O. Drawer address and city name ("STARKE") in the top center. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear in the lower-left corner. An indemnity bond statement is shown above one signature line in the lower-right corner.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Please 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:

Eugene Richardson
Vice President
Community State Bank
811 South Walnut Street
P.O. Drawer 460
Starke, Florida 32091
Telephone: (904) 964-7830
Fax: (904) 964-1113
E-mail: isupport@communitystatebank-fl.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/2009/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)