Counterfeit treasurer's checks drawn on Eastern Bank, Boston, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

Eastern Bank, Boston, Massachusetts, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit treasurer's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the proper routing number of 011301798 for Eastern Bank. The counterfeit items and the authentic checks are similar. However, authentic treasurer's checks have a thin border outlining the check, and the counterfeit items have a thick dark border across the top and bottom of the check. Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic treasurer's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Caroline F. Malone
AVP - Corporate Security
Eastern Bank
195 Market Street, EP1-06
Lynn, Massachusetts 01901
Telephone: (781) 598-7845
Fax: (781) 598-7907
malone@easternbk.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. ZamorskiDirector
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection