Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on New Era Bank, Fredericktown, Missouri, are reportedly in circulation

New Era Bank, Fredericktown, Missouri, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the proper routing number of 081502637. The counterfeit items and the authentic checks are markedly dissimilar. Authentic cashier's checks have a bank logo at the top center of the check with a double-lined oval encircling the bank name. Counterfeit items have a logo that features a rectangular border framing the bank name. Additionally, counterfeit items have a thin dark strip across the top of the check that describes certain security features. Authentic checks do not have this strip. Copies of a counterfeit item and 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:

Janice Starkey
Cashier
New Era Bank
P.O. Box 511
Fredericktown, Missouri 63645
Telephone: (573) 783-3336
Fax: (573) 783-2189
Starkeyj@newerabank.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