Pacific Western National Bank (also known as Pacific Western Bank), Santa Monica, California, has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name First Bank, Austin, Texas, are in circulation

Pacific Western National Bank (also known as Pacific Western Bank), Santa Monica, California, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the name First Bank, Austin, Texas, are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 122239775, which is assigned to Pacific Western Bank. However, Pacific Western National Bank issues cashier's checks with the routing number 122238200. The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic checks in style. The counterfeit items display a "1" superimposed on top of a map of the United States, encircled in a globe. "First Bank" appears to the right of the globe logo, in the top-center portion of the item. "Austin, Texas" is displayed beneath "First Bank."

Authentic cashier's checks display "PACIFIC WESTERN BANK" to the right of a setting-sun logo, in the top-center portion of the check. Beneath the bank name, "Santa Monica, CA 90407-2209" is displayed.

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of 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:

Sue Thomas
Operations Administration
Pacific Western Bank
250 N. Westlake Blvd.
Westlake, California 91362
Telephone: (805) 494-9368
E-mail: sthomas@pacificwesternbank.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/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