Counterfeit checks bearing the name North Community Bank, Chicago, Illinois, are reportedly in circulation

North Community Bank, Chicago, Illinois, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the bank's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items include the routing number 071001533, which is assigned to North Community Bank. Some, but not all, of the counterfeit items display the routing number as 71001533, which is missing the leading zero. The counterfeit items include an "NC" logo, the bank's name, city and state in the upper-left corner with the word "REMITTER" displayed directly below. The counterfeit items display a serial number beginning with the letters "EW."

Authentic checks display "OFFICIAL BANK CHECK" in the top-left portion of the item. The following statement appears in the top center of the check: "The purchase of an indemnity bond may be required before this check will be replaced or refunded in the event it is lost, misplaced, or stolen."

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

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

Carrie McBriar
Fraud Officer
North Community Bank
2335 North Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Telephone: (773) 244-7049
Fax: (773) 244-7065
E-mail: cmbriar@northcommunitybank.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