Counterfeit official checks bearing the name First Tuskegee Bank, Tuskegee, Alabama, are reportedly in circulation

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

The counterfeit items display the routing number 262286109, which is assigned to First Tuskegee Bank, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic official checks. The counterfeit items display ornate borders on three sides. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" appear inside of a rectangle with rounded corners that is centered within the top border. The following security statement is displayed on each side of the rectangle: "HOLD THIS DOCUMENT UP TO THE LIGHT TO VIEW TRUE WATERMARK." The bank's logo, name, "ESTABLISHED IN 1894," address ("301 N. Elm Str Tuskegee, AL 36083") and a telephone number ("1 (888) 226-8286"), which is not associated with the bank, appear in the top-left corner. The bank's name is repeated as "DRAWER" above a computer-generated signature in the lower-right corner.

Authentic checks display the routing number 096016765, which is assigned to U.S. Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota. First Tuskegee Bank issues official checks through an account at U.S. Bank. The following security statements are displayed just below the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO- PRINT SIGNATURE LINE. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" appear in the top center above the bank's logo, name and address ("100 Commerce Street, Montgomery, AL 36104"). A "MEMO" line is included in the lower-left area and two signature lines appear in the lower-right 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:

David Dalling
Vice President and Controller
First Tuskegee Bank
660 Adams Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Telephone: (334) 262-0800
Fax: (334) 265-4333
E-mail: ddalling@firsttuskegeebank.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