Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Union State Bank, New York, New York, are reportedly in circulation

Union State Bank, Nanuet, New York, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the bank's name, with a New York, New York, address, are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 021905977, which is assigned to Union State Bank, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items include "USB" and the bank's name within a rectangle in the upper-left corner. Directly below the rectangle is a branch address of "11 EAST 22ND STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10010" and a telephone number, which is not associated with the bank. Centered at the top of the counterfeit items are the words "CASHIER'S CHECK." The counterfeit items display a box for the dollar amount with the following statement directly below the box: "VOID AFTER 90 DAYS." Additionally, the counterfeit items include a "DRAWER" field above the only authorized signature line in the lower-right corner.

Authentic checks display a "USB" logo, the bank's name and location in the lower-left corner. Authentic checks have a tile-pattern background consisting of the "USB" logo, and the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are printed in the top-left corner. Additionally, printed beneath the dollar amount line and above the two signature lines is the following statement: "AMOUNTS $50,000 AND ABOVE REQUIRE TWO SIGNATURES."

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

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

Gerald M. Kilduff
Senior Vice President
Union State Bank
100 Dutch Hill Road
Orangeburg, New York 10962
Telephone: (845) 365-4661
Fax: (845) 365-4713
E-mail: gkilduff@unionstate.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. Thompson
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection