FIL-49-98
May 11, 1998

TO:	CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SUBJECT:	Entities That May Be Conducting Banking Operations in the United States Without Authorization

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has advised us that the following entities may be conducting banking business in the United States illegally or without authorization. Proposed transactions involving these entities should be viewed with extreme caution.

• United Funding Bancorporation, Ltd.
  318 North Carson Street, Suite 214
  Carson City, Nevada
  
• Meridian Merchants Bank, Inc. (Nauru)
  1420 Fifth Avenue, 22nd Floor
  Seattle, Washington
  

The OCC also has advised us that it has received information that the following entity has issued $650 million (U.S.) face value check form instruments (a copy is attached). The entity has not been authorized by the government of Romania to conduct a banking business. Anyone considering involvement with these instruments is advised to use extreme caution.

• Banca Populara Ardealul
  Bistrita, Romania

Please forward any information concerning these entities and instruments to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, N. W., Room F-6012, Washington, D. C. 20429.

	Nicholas J. Ketcha Jr.
	Director

Attachment: (facsimile not available electronically)

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

NOTE: Paper copies of FDIC financial institution letters may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (800-276-6003 or (703) 562-2200).