Counterfeit cashiers checks bearing the name Republic First Bank, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are reportedly in circulation

Republic First Bank, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashiers checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 036002247, which is assigned to Republic First Bank. The items are identical to authentic cashiers checks; however, authentic checks are light blue with a diamond pattern background and dark blue lettering, and display "REMITTER" in the upper-left corner.

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:

Maria Murphy
Vice President and Senior Operations Manager
Republic First Bank
Two Liberty Place
50 South 16th Street, Suite 2400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
Telephone: (215) 430-5816
Fax: (215) 732-8391
E-mail: mmurphy@rfbkonline.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