Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc, Columbia, South Carolina, are reportedly in circulation

First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc., Columbia, South Carolina, 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 053201487, which is the routing number for First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc. The counterfeit items and the authentic checks are dissimilar. Authentic cashier's checks are issued on blue pre-printed, secure paper stock, have a decorative gold or burgundy border and do not have a telephone number on the check. The counterfeit items are printed on blue computer check stock, have a thin blue border at the top of the check, and display the telephone number 1-888-225-3873, which is not associated with First Citizens Bank and Trust Company. 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:

Mr. Brad McFarland
Vice President/Corporate Fraud Investigations
First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 29
Columbia, South Carolina 29202
Telephone: (803) 733-2760
Fax: (803) 733-2098
Email: brad.mcfarland@firstcitizensonline.com

Information about these instruments may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, 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