Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Brookline Savings Bank, Brookline, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

Brookline Bank, Brookline, Massachusetts, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's previous name, "Brookline Savings Bank," are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 211371489, which is assigned to Brookline Bank, but the items are dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display "BROOKLINE SAVINGS BANK" in the top center above the words "Cashier's Check." "Brookline Savings Bank" also appears in the top-left corner above the bank's address. Across the top border appears: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

Authentic official checks include the words "Brookline Bank" in the top center of the check above the bank's city and state. The checks also display the statement "Issued by Travelers Express Company Drawn on U.S. Bank, St. Paul, MN" in the lower-left corner and bear the correspondent bank's routing number.

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Judy Binder
Deposit Service Manager
Brookline Bank
24 Webster Place
Brookline, MA 02445
Telephone: (617) 730-3600, ext. 3621
Fax: (617) 730-3552
Email: jbinder@brkl.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 Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Sandra L. ThompsonActing Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection