Counterfeit bank money orders drawn on Southern Missouri Bank & Trust Co, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, are reportedly in circulation

Southern Missouri Bank & Trust Co., Poplar Bluff, Missouri, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit bank money orders bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the proper routing number of 281573259 for Southern Missouri Bank & Trust Co. Two different styles of counterfeit items have been identified. The first counterfeit item (counterfeit item #1) is markedly dissimilar from an authentic bank money order. The second counterfeit item (counterfeit item #2) is similar to an authentic bank money order. Authentic bank money orders are printed on a blue background and have a single authorized signature line. Counterfeit item #2 is printed on a tan color paper and has two signature lines. Copies of the counterfeit items and an authentic bank money order (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Lorna Brannum
Security Officer
Southern Missouri Bank & Trust Co.
P.O. Box 520
Poplar Bluff, Missouri 63901
Telephone: (573) 778-1804
Fax: (573) 686-2920
lbrannum@smbtonline.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. Zamorski

Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection