Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on United Southern Bank, Umatilla, Florida, are reportedly in circulation

United Southern Bank, Umatilla, Florida, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

Some counterfeit items are reported to display the proper routing number of 096016765; however, others, like the copy attached, do not display the proper routing number. Additionally, authentic checks state "Payable through US Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota" in the lower-left corner of the check; the counterfeit items state "Payable through Firstar Bank of Minnesota, N.A., St. Paul, Minnesota." Furthermore, authentic checks provide a warning on the face that an indemnity bond may be required before a check will be replaced, while the counterfeit items have no similar warning. A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic cashier's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Michael Mabry
Security Officer
United Southern Bank
P.O. Drawer 29
Umatilla, Florida 32784-0029
Telephone: (352) 669-2121
Fax: (352) 669-2604
mike.mabry@unitedsouthernbank.com

Information about these instruments may be forwarded to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4040, 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/2004/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Michael J. ZamorskiDirector
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection