Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name The Bank & Trust, Del Rio, Texas, are reportedly in circulation

The Bank and Trust, s.s.b., Del Rio, 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 011007092, which is assigned to Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts. The Bank and Trust, s.s.b. issues cashier's checks through Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company. The items are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks and display the following security statement embedded within a darkened top border with rounded corners: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A BLUE AND BURGUNDY BACKGROUND AND AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK ON THE BANK - - HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW." The signature area is shaded and the security wording "SIGNATURE HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND · BORDER CONTAINS MICROPRINTING" appears beneath the signature line in the lower-right corner. Counterfeit items have a "VOID" background when copied.

Authentic cashier's checks display the following security feature statement just below the top border: "THE BACK OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK; THE FRONT HAS A MICROPRINT BORDER. ABSENCE OF THIS FEATURE INDICATES A COPY." The bank's telephone numbers (830-774-2555 and 1-800-833-5746), appear below the bank's logo, name and location in the top-left corner. The phrases "FACSIMILE SIGNATURE NOT VALID OVER $5,000.00" and "VICE PRES – ASSISTANT CASHIER" appear above the signature line 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:

Kathy Dominguez
Vice President
The Bank & Trust, s.s.b.
P.O. Box 4010
Del Rio, Texas 78840
Telephone: (830) 774-2555
Fax: (830) 768-4023
E-mail: kdominguez@thebankandtrust.com

Alternate Contact:

Janice S. Larkan
Chief Operations Officer
The Bank & Trust, s.s.b.
P.O. Box 4010
Del Rio, Texas 78840
Telephone: (830) 774-2555
Fax: (830) 768-4023
E-mail: jslarkan@thebankandtrust.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/2008/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. ThompsonDirector
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection