Counterfeit official checks drawn on UmbrellaBankcom, an Internet division of New South Federal Savings Bank, Irondale, Alabama, are reportedly in circulation

UmbrellaBank.com, Summit, Illinois, an Internet division of New South Federal Savings Bank, Irondale, Alabama, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. Two types of counterfeit items are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the proper routing number of 071974479 for UmbrellaBank.com. However, the counterfeit items and authentic official checks differ in appearance. Copies of the counterfeit items and an authentic official check (VOID) are attached for your review. Counterfeit items are blue, and authentic official checks are yellow. Counterfeit item #1 has the umbrella logo and "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the upper-left corner. Counterfeit item #2 has the umbrella logo near the top-middle and does not indicate the type of check. Authentic official checks have the umbrella logo over the wording "umbrellabank.com" directly in the top-middle portion of the check and the wording "OFFICIAL CHECK" is boldly printed in the lower-left portion of the check.

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

Rebecca Leon
Vice President of Internet Operations
UmbrellaBank.com
5818 South Archer Road
Summit, Illinois 60501
Telephone: (866) 649-2852
Fax: (866) 649-2840
rll@umbrellabank.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/2005/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