Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Iowa Trust and Savings Bank, Emmetsburg, Iowa, are reportedly in circulation

Iowa Trust and Savings Bank, Emmetsburg, Iowa, 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 073921093, which is assigned to Iowa Trust and Savings Bank. A security feature statement is embedded in a darkened top border and along the bottom border between two padlocks. One signature line appears in the lower-right corner of the items.

Authentic checks have a security padlock icon embedded within the right border. The security statement "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MICROPRINT SIGNATURE LINE, AUTHENTIC WATERMARK, AND CHOLOROSTAIN PAPER; ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY" appears under the written amount line. Two signature lines appear in the lower-right corner of the check.

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:

Colleen M. Heldt
Cashier and Chief Financial Officer
Iowa Trust and Savings Bank
2101 Tenth Street
P.O. Box 159
Emmetsburg, Iowa 50536-0159
Telephone: (712) 852-3451, Extension 241
Toll Free: (800) 233-9109
Fax: (712) 852-4232
E-mail: cheldt@iowatrustbank.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