Counterfeit official checks bearing the name First American Bank are reportedly in circulation

First American Bank, Birmingham, Alabama, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's routing number are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 022000868 and are tan in color. Descriptions of security features are embedded in the top border. A telephone number, which is not associated with the bank, is printed in the top-left corner below the bank logo and name.

Authentic checks are blue and display "OFFICIAL CHECK" inside a rectangle with rounded corners in the top center. Printed on both sides of the rectangle is the following security statement: "HOLD DOCUMENT UP TO THE LIGHT TO VIEW TRUE WATERMARK." The top and side borders have a scroll pattern. A padlock symbol and security feature notice are located on the right side. The statement "Issued by Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Englewood, Colorado To Citibank, N.A., Buffalo, NY" is printed in the lower-left corner.

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:

Wesley Buzbee
Security Manager
First American Bank
Post Office Box 10686
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
Phone: (205) 795-4259
Fax: (205) 583-3245
E-mail: wbuzbee@access-bank.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other counterfeit 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