Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Great Western Bank, Omaha, Nebraska, are reportedly in circulation

Great Western Bank, Omaha, Nebraska, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items are relatively similar to authentic checks in style. The counterfeit items do not display a routing number, which will cause the item to be rejected. The counterfeit items contain security wording embedded in the top border, which has a dark background and light- colored lettering.

Authentic cashier's checks display the routing number 096016765 and are issued through Firstar Bank of Minnesota, N.A., St. Paul, Minnesota, which is now named US Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota. Authentic checks have security wording across the top of the check, but it is printed in a darker shade, with a light background.

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:

Kimberly Boatwright
Security Officer and BSA Administrator
Great Western Bank
6015 Northwest Radial Highway.
Omaha, Nebraska 68104
Telephone: (402) 952-6027
Fax: (402) 552-1209
E-mail: Kimberly.boatwright@greatwesternbank.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