Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Citizens State Bank are reportedly in circulation

Citizens State Bank, Woodville, Texas, 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 113119105, which is assigned to Citizens State Bank. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" appear inside of a rectangle with rounded corners in the top-center area. A security statement appears below the signature area.

Citizens State Bank does not issue official checks; however, it does issue cashier's checks. Authentic cashier's checks display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" vertically along the left side. The following security statement is embedded within a darkened top border: "THIS CHECK CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING SECURITY FEATURES – MULTI-COLOR PRINTING ON FACE, WATERMARK IN PAPER, AND MICROPRINTING ON BORDER."

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Please 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 Carruth
Vice President and Security Officer
Citizens State Bank
P.O. Box 109
Woodville, Texas 75979
Telephone: (409) 283-2561
Fax: (409) 283-7834
E-mail: kcarruth@citizensbank.net

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/2009/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