Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Peoples Bank, Lynden, Washington, are reportedly in circulation

Peoples Bank, Lynden, Washington, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. Peoples Bank does not issue official checks; however, it does issue cashier's checks.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 122042205, which is assigned to Preferred Bank, Los Angeles, California. Peoples Bank issues cashier's checks through a payable through account held at Preferred Bank. The counterfeit items display a security feature statement embedded in the top border. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are in the top center. A written amount line appears in the center of the items. A security feature statement appears in the lower-right corner under the "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" line.

Authentic checks display a security feature statement just below the top border. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are in the top center. The abbreviation "RE:" appears under the wording "Pay to the Order of." A "NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS" statement appears in the lower-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:

Deposit Operations Department
Peoples Bank
419 Liberty Street
PO Box 233
Lynden, Washington 98264
Telephone: (360) 354-7249
Fax: (360) 354-7242
Email: Tera.Swan@peoplesbank-wa.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