Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name First Sentinel Bank, Richlands, Virginia, are reportedly in circulation

First Sentinel Bank, Richlands, Virginia, 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 include the routing number 251473512, which is assigned to First Sentinel Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display a negative image of the bank's logo in the top-left portion of the item that includes a dark background and light lettering. The counterfeit items also display the wording "CASHIER'S CHECK" on the left side of the item. In the top-center portion of the counterfeit item, the bank's name and location are printed, followed by a toll-free telephone number, which is not associated with the bank.

Authentic cashier's checks display the wording "Cashier's Check" in the upper-right corner of the check. The checks also display a logo, which is an image of a person superimposed over a large "1." The image of the person is light; the background color of the "1" is dark. To the right of the logo, "FIRST SENTINEL BANK" appears in a large font. Below the logo and the bank's name is the wording "Subsidiary of First Region Bancshares, Inc."

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:

Serena McClanahan
Administrative Assistant -Operations Center
First Sentinel Bank
679 Claypool Hill Mall Road
P.O. Box 1050
Richlands, Virginia 24641
Telephone: (276) 963-3000, Extension 230
Fax: (276) 964-4958
E-mail: serenamcclanahan@firstsentinelbank.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