Washington Business Bank, Olympia, Washington, has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation

Washington Business Bank, Olympia, 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 125108670, which is assigned to Washington Business Bank, but are dissimilar in appearance to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display the bank's logo, address and a telephone number, not associated with the bank, in the top-left corner. "CASHIER'S CHECK" is printed in the top center below a fabricated "FDIC Insured" logo. The counterfeit items include two "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" lines in the lower- right corner and the following statement in the top border: "THE DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

Authentic checks display the bank's logo, name, address and telephone number in the top-left corner. "CASHIER'S CHECK" is printed in the top-right corner to the right of an FDIC symbol. The checks also display one authorized signature line in the lower-right corner, a "Remitter" line in the lower-left corner, and large watermark of the bank's logo in the center. Authentic checks are printed on white paper with blue print.

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:

Patricia Steingruber or Martin Hersrud
Washington Business Bank
2607 Martin Way East, Suite 211
Olympia, Washington 98506
Phone: (360) 754-1945
Fax: (360) 456-0252
E-mail: Customercare@WashingtonBusinessBank.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