Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Guaranty Bond Bank, Mount Pleasant, Texas, are reportedly in circulation

Guaranty Bond Bank, Mount Pleasant, Texas, 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 051900353, which is assigned to Branch Banking and Trust Company, Charleston, West Virginia (BB&T). Guaranty Bond Bank issues cashier's checks using a payable-through account at BB&T. Although the counterfeit items are similar to authentic checks, the counterfeit items have security feature descriptions embedded within the top and bottom borders and have rounded corners, which authentic checks do not have.

Authentic checks have security feature descriptions printed along the top border. The words "BANK WITH PRIDE" are printed vertically along the right border. The checks are printed on light-green paper with a basket-weave pattern and have squared corners.

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:

Marcana Ellithorp
Assistant Vice President of Operations
Guaranty Bond Bank
100 West Arkansas Street
Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
Phone (903) 572-9881
Fax (903) 572-9658
E-mail: mellithorp@gnty.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