Counterfeit official bank checks bearing the name Kentucky Bank, Paris, Kentucky, are reportedly in circulation

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

The counterfeit items display the routing number 042101174, which is assigned to Kentucky Bank. The items are dissimilar to authentic checks and display a security feature statement embedded in the top border. The bank name and address appear in the top-left corner. The words "OFFICIAL BANK CHECK" are displayed inside a foil rectangle in the top center.

Kentucky Bank does not issue official bank checks; however, it does issue cashier's checks. Authentic checks display the bank's name and logo in the top center. A notice to customers regarding an indemnity bond is in the top-left corner and the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear on the lower-left side.

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:

Lydia Sosby
Vice President of Compliance
Kentucky Bank
P.O. Box 157
Paris, Kentucky 40362-0157
Telephone: (859) 988-1307
Fax: (859) 987-5832
E-mail: lydia.sosby@kybank.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/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