Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name ESSA Bank & Trust, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, are reportedly in circulation

ESSA Bank & Trust, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 231372248, which is assigned to ESSA Bank & Trust, but are dissimilar to authentic checks. On the counterfeit items, the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are printed above the lower-left corner, and security feature descriptions are embedded within the top border. The items are printed on light blue and white marbled paper and have rounded corners.

Authentic checks display the routing number 096016765, which is a payable-through account at U.S. Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota. ESSA Bank & Trust issues checks through an account at U.S. Bank. The bank's name, logo and address are displayed in the upper-left corner, and two "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" lines are printed in the lower-right corner. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear in the upper-right corner. Security feature descriptions are printed below the top border. Authentic checks are printed on light green paper with green borders.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic 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:

Debra DeFrank
Security Officer
ESSA Bank & Trust
200 Palmer Street
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18360
Direct Phone: (570) 421-3773, Ext. 343
Fax: (570) 421-7158
E-mail: ddefrank@essabank.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. Questions 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/2007/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