Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Milestone Bank, Dallas, Texas, are reportedly in circulation

Bank Reale, Pasco, Washington, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the name Milestone Bank, Dallas Texas, and a routing number assigned to Bank Reale are in circulation. Bank Reale does not issue official checks; however, it does issue cashier's checks.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 125108793, which is assigned to Bank Reale. A security feature statement appears along an ornate border at the top center and the lower-right side of the counterfeit items. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" appear along the left border. Milestone Bank's name, logo and location appear in the top center. The statement "ISSUED BY KELLWOOD PAYMENT SYSTEMS, INC. MESA, ARIZONA TO MILESTONE BANK, DALLAS, TEXAS" appears in lower-left corner.

Authentic checks are bluish-purple in color, have ornate top and side borders and display a diagonal "VOID" background when copied. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear encircled in the top center of the check. The bank's name, logo, location and telephone number appear in the top-left 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:

Jody Stafford
Vice President and Branch Manager
5205 Road 68
Pasco, Washington 99301
Telephone: (509) 545-6360
Fax: (509) 546-7269
E-mail: jody@bankreale.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