1st Security Bank of Washington, Mountlake Terrace, Washington, has reported that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name and a Lynnwood, Washington, location are in circulation

1st Security Bank of Washington, Mountlake Terrace, Washington, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 325182289, which is assigned to 1st Security Bank of Washington. However, authentic checks are issued through Key Bank National Association, Cleveland, Ohio, and display the routing number 125000574, which is assigned to Key Bank National Association.

The counterfeit items are dissimilar in appearance to authentic checks. The counterfeit items bear the bank's name and logo in the upper-left corner above a Lynnwood, Washington, street address and a telephone number, which is not associated with the bank. The words "FDIC INSURED" and "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear in the top center. Printed in the top border is the following statement: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." The counterfeit items are printed on blue and white office supply stock paper and have two authorized signature lines in the lower-right corner.

Authentic checks display the bank's logo and name followed by two office locations and the bank's toll-free telephone number – (800) 683-0973 – in the upper-left portion of the check. "KEY BANK LYNNWOOD OFFICE" appears in the top-right corner of the check. One authorized signature line is displayed in the lower-right corner.

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

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

1st Security Bank of Washington
Client Services Department
P.O. Box 97000
Lynnwood, WA 98046-9700
Telephone: (800) 683-0973
Fax: (425) 771-1642
or
Jean Collins
Fraud Analyst
Telephone: (800) 683-0973, Extension 3202
E-mail: jeanc@1stsecurityofwa.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