Savings Bank of Walpole, Walpole, New Hampshire, has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation

Savings Bank of Walpole, Walpole, New Hampshire, 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 211770093, which is assigned to Savings Bank of Walpole, but are dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display the bank's name above an address in the upper-left corner. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" and "Remitter" appear in the top center. A statement describing security features, including reference to a watermark on the reverse side, is embedded within the top border.

Authentic checks display the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" in the top center and the bank's weather vane logo and name on the upper-left side. Authentic checks are issued through Integrated Payment Systems and include the routing number 022000868, which is assigned to a payable-through account at Citibank, Buffalo, New York. Authentic checks have ornate borders on the top and sides.

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

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

Peter T. Whittemore
Senior Vice President
Savings Bank of Walpole
84 Marlboro Street
Keene, New Hampshire 03431
Telephone: (603) 355-1606
Fax: (603) 355-1630
E-mail: pwhittemore@savingsbankofwalpole.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