The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has learned that loan disbursement checks drawn on Home Savings Bank, SSB, Washington, NC, have been stolen from the NewSouth Bank, Washington, NC. The checks are payable through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta and have serial numbers ranging from 11001236 through 11001237 and 11001240 through 11001250. The stolen checks may contain the imprint of the bank's facsimile signature stamp and may contain amounts imprinted using the bank's check writer. Stop payments have been issued on these checks.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

NewSouth Bank
1311 Carolina Avenue
P. O. Box 2047
Washington, NC 27889
Telephone (919) 946-4178
Fax (919) 946-3873

Information concerning these instruments also may be forwarded to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-6012, Washington, D.C. 20429.

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to maintain public confidence in the nation's banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at the nation's 12,000 banks and savings associations and it promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed.

FDIC Press Releases, Financial Institution Letters, the Quarterly Banking Profile and other important information is available on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation World Wide Web home page at .

Paper copies of press releases and other documents may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20429 ((703) 562-2200).