Counterfeit checks bearing the name Citizens Community Federal, Altoona, Wisconsin, are reportedly in circulation

Citizens Community Federal, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 071004501, which is assigned to the Federal Home Loan Bank, Chicago, Illinois. Citizens Community Federal issues checks through the Federal Home Loan Bank. The counterfeit items are similar to authentic checks issued by the bank's Altoona, Wisconsin, branch. The following statement is embedded in the top border of the counterfeit items: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." Embedded in the top border of authentic checks is the following statement: "THIS CHECK HAS VARIOUS SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDING COLORED BACKGROUND, MICROPRINTING & LINED WATERMARK."

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware
that the appearance of counterfeit items may be modified and that additional variations are possible.

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

Becky Johnson
Vice President
Citizens Community Federal
2174 East Ridge Center
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701
Telephone: (715) 836-9994, ext 120
Fax: (715) 831-4299
E-mail: blj@citizenscommunityfederal.net

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. Thompson
Acting Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection