Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Greenville First Bank, Greenville, South Carolina, are reportedly in circulation

Greenville First Bank, N.A., Greenville, South Carolina, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The bank issues official checks rather than cashier's checks.

The counterfeit items bear the routing number 111036002, which is not assigned to Greenville First Bank. In addition, the counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items include the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top-center portion of the check. The bank's name is printed in the upper-left corner with a heavy black line and a thin black line bordering the bank's name above and below it.

Authentic checks bear the routing number 053208011, which is assigned to Greenville First Bank. The checks have a light gray background and display "OFFICIAL CHECK" directly below a hologram in the top center. Embedded within the hologram are the words "SECURE" and "GENUINE." In addition, the statement "THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK AND MICROPRINTED SIGNATURE LINE" is embedded within the top border of authentic checks.

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:

Gwen G. Bridges
Senior Vice President for Risk Management
Greenville First Bank, N.A.
P.O. Box 17465
Greenville, South Carolina 29606
Telephone: (864) 679-9000
Fax: (864) 679-9098
E-mail: gbridges@greenvillefirst.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