American Bank, National Association, Corpus Christi, Texas, contacted the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) to report that counterfeit and stolen checks bearing the institution’s name are in circulation.

Both the counterfeit and stolen expense checks and the trust checks display the routing number 114903284, which is assigned to American Bank, National Association.

The counterfeit expense checks are reportedly similar to authentic checks. However, the counterfeit items have a solid blue background with a dark banner across the top. The notice embedded in the banners states: "This document has a colored background and microprinting. The reverse side includes an artificial watermark." The flag logo appears in red, white and blue. All other printed wording on the counterfeit check appears in black. Authentic expense checks are printed on blue marbled paper and display an American flag logo in red, white and blue. The check number is printed in red and the bank’s name and address are printed in blue, as are the words "Expense Check." All other wording appears in black.

Stolen trust and asset management checks are a deep red and blue multi-toned color, with a black American Bank flag logo. All other printed wording appears in black, and the checks contain a watermark statement: "Check + Plus." The payee, amount and date have reportedly been altered.

To verify the authenticity of American Bank, National Association, checks or to provide any information you have about this matter, please contact:

Gayla Kelly
Fraud Investigations Officer
American Bank, National Association
P.O. Box 6469
Corpus Christi, Texas 78466-6469
Telephone: (361) 653-5271
Fax: (361) 991-0084
gkelly@americanbank.com

or

Melanie Buchi
Risk Review Analyst
American Bank, National Association
P.O. Box 6469
Corpus Christi, Texas 78466-6469
Telephone: (361) 653-5229
Fax: (361) 991-0084
mbuchi@americanbank.com

Additional information about this matter that you believe should be brought to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:

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 Web site 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.

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

NOTE: Paper copies of FDIC Special Alerts may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (1-877-275-3342 or (703) 562-2200).