Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name of The Bank of the Pacific, Bellingham, Washington, are reportedly in circulation

The Bank of the Pacific, Aberdeen, 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 125107707, which is assigned to The Bank of the Pacific, but are dissimilar in appearance to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display the bank's logo, name and a Bellingham, Washington, address in the upper-left corner. "CASHIER'S CHECK" is printed in the top center, and a box on the right side contains the following notations: "DATE, CHECK NO., AMOUNT." The following statement is printed 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, a Bellingham, Washington, address and a telephone number in the top center below "Original Financial Instrument." "CASHIER'S CHECK" is printed in the lower-left corner. Below the dollars amount line is the statement: "This document has a multi-colored background, a micro-print signature line, and a holographic foil title, absence of these features will indicate a copy." Authentic checks have ornate borders on all sides.

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:

Jerry Phillips
Assistant Vice President/Risk Manager
The Bank of the Pacific
Phone: (360) 642-5524 Extension 2251
Fax: (360) 642-3423
E-mail: Alert@thebankofthepacific.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