Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name United Midwest Savings Bank, De Graff, Ohio, are reportedly in circulation

United Midwest Savings Bank, De Graff, Ohio, 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 244170877, which is assigned to United Midwest Savings Bank. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items have a three-sided scalloped border. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are displayed in a box in the top-center. The bank's name appears in the top-left corner and in the lower-left corner along with the address "101 S. MAIN STREET, DE GRAFF, OH 43318." "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" appears to the left of the signature line.

Authentic checks are printed on blue safety paper with a blue stripe background and an ornate blue border. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are in the lower-left corner. A padlock icon, security statement and "VOID AFTER 90 DAYS" appear on the right side. The bank's name; address, "4848 REED ROAD, COLUMBUS, OH 43220"; and toll-free 800 telephone number are top-centered. "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" appears above the signature line on the right side.

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:

Deposit Operations Department
4848 Reed Road
Columbus, Ohio 43220
Telephone: (614) 538-9400
Fax: (614) 442-7097 or (614) 538-0897
Email: customerservice@umwsb.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 Prtoection