Counterfeit cashier's checks of Citizens National Bank, N A, Bossier City, Louisiana, are reportedly in circulation

Citizens National Bank, N. A., Bossier City, Louisiana, contacted the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit cashier's checks display the routing number 01102133, which is assigned to The Citizens National Bank, Putnam, Connecticut. The counterfeit items also display an incorrect bank address of 9920 Ellerbe Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71106, and a fraudulent telephone number of 1-800-376-1094. The bank's name appears in both the top-left corner and top-left center of the check, but the bank's logo is missing. The wording "SIGNATURE HAS A COLOURED BACKGROUND" is printed under the signature line at the bottom of the check.

Authentic cashier's checks display the proper routing 111103524. The bank's logo, name, address and telephone number appear in the top-center portion of the check. The correct address and telephone number are shown below. A notice appears under the term "Cashier's Check" stating: "NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS – THE PURCHASE OF AN INDEMNITY BOND WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE AN OFFICIAL CHECK OF THIS BANK WILL BE REPLACED OR REFUNDED IN THE EVENT IT IS LOST, MISPLACED OR STOLEN."

To verify the authenticity of Citizens National Bank, N. A., cashier's checks, or to provide any information you have concerning this matter, please contact:

Jim Keel
Cashier
Citizens National Bank, N. A.
2711 East Texas Street
Bossier City, Louisiana 71111
Telephone: (318) 747-6000
Fax: (318) 741-8290
jkeel@citizensnb.com

Additional information about this matter that you believe should be brought to the attention of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency may be forwarded to:

Mail: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Enforcement & Compliance Division, MS 8-10
250 E. Street, SW
Washington, DC 20219Fax: (202) 874-5301Email: occalertresponses@occ.treas.govInternet: http://www.occ.treas.gov

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity 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.

Christopher J. SpothActing Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection