Counterfeit official bank checks bearing the name Peoples Bank, Waynesboro, Tennessee, are reportedly in circulation

Peoples Bank, Clifton, Tennessee, 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 064103464, which is assigned to Peoples Bank. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items are pink and have cranberry borders with rounded corners. Embedded within the darkened top border are the following security feature statements: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." The words "OFFICIAL BANK CHECK" and "MEMO" are printed in the lower-left corner. The items include the bank's street address ("210 Dexter Woods Blvd., Waynesboro, TN 38485"). Four darkened rectangles contain the words "REFERENCE," "DATE," "CHECK NO.," and "AMOUNT."

Peoples Bank does not issue official bank checks. However, the bank issues cashier's checks. Authentic cashier's checks have a multicolored red background and red borders. The following security feature statement is embedded within the top border: "THIS CHECK CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING SECURITY FEATURES: MULTI-COLOR PRINTING ON FACE, WATERMARK IN PAPER, AND MICROPRINTING ON BORDER." The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are printed vertically along the left border. Authentic cashier's checks include the bank's post office box address ("P.O. Box 718, Waynesboro, TN 38485") and telephone number ("(931) 722-3608"). The word "REMITTER" 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:

Jennie Runions
Compliance and BSA Officer
Peoples Bank
P.O. Box 718
Waynesboro, Tennessee 38485
Telephone: (931) 722-3608
Fax: (931) 722-6144
E-mail: jrunions@pbbanking.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