Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name United Bank & Trust, Tecumseh, Michigan, are reportedly in circulation

United Bank & Trust, Tecumseh, Michigan, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the bank's name are in circulation in conjunction with sales through Internet auction sites.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 096016765, which is assigned to U.S. Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota. United Bank & Trust issues cashier's checks through an account held at U.S. Bank. The counterfeit items are printed on light-blue check stock with black lettering, and they display a red logo of an Indian head (profile view facing the left side). The top border has the following statement embedded: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A COLORED BORDER AND BACKGROUND PLUS A KNIGHT & FINGERPRINT WATERMARK ON THE BACK-HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW."

Authentic checks are printed on light-gray check stock with black lettering and a have a burgundy logo of an Indian head (profile view facing the left side). The following statement is embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY."

Copies of the 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:

Kathy McCrate
Vice President - Risk Management
United Bank & Trust
1205 East Chicago Boulevard
Tecumseh, Michigan 49286
Telephone: (517) 423-1667
Fax: (517) 423-5041
E-mail: KMccrate@ubat.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 Web site 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