Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Northway Bank, Berlin, New Hampshire, (formerly known as The Berlin City Bank) are reportedly in circulation

Northway Bank, Berlin, New Hampshire, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's former name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 011700425, which is assigned to Northway Bank. However, authentic checks are issued by Integrated Payment Systems, Englewood, Colorado, and use the routing number 102000979, which is assigned to JP Morgan Chase Bank, Denver, Colorado. Also, authentic checks are referred to as official checks, while the counterfeit items use the term cashier's checks. The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic official checks in format. Authentic checks display the wording official check in the top-center portion of the check; the counterfeit items display the bank's former name in that location. A copy of a counterfeit item and an authentic cashier's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

The Berlin City Bank and Pemigewasset National Bank merged effective October 1, 2005. The resulting bank was named Northway Bank. Therefore, use caution when handling any checks bearing the bank's former names issued after the merger date.

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

Susan Dumont
Security Officer
Northway Bank
P.O. Box 9
Berlin, New Hampshire 03590
Telephone: (603) 752-1171 Extension 3234
Fax: (603) 528-6054
sdumont@northwaybank.com

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 website 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