Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Elsa State Bank & Trust, Elsa, Texas, are reportedly in circulation

Elsa State Bank and Trust Company, Elsa, Texas, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. Elsa State Bank and Trust Company does not issue official checks; however, it does issue cashier's checks.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 114922142, which is assigned to Elsa State Bank and Trust Company. The counterfeit items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. A security feature statement is embedded in a darkened top border and along the bottom border between two padlocks. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are in the top-center area. The bank's logo, name and location are displayed in the top-left corner. There is one "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" line in the lower-right corner. The word "MEMO" appears in the lower-left corner.

Authentic cashier's checks display the routing number 092005411, which is assigned to First Interstate Bank, Billings, Montana. Elsa State Bank issues its cashier's checks through a payable-through account held at First Interstate Bank. Authentic checks display a security feature statement directly below the top border. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are displayed on the right side of the checks. The bank's name and location are in the top-center area. A "NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS" statement appears in the top-left corner above a "Remitter" line. There are two "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" lines in the lower-right corner. A "PAYABLE THROUGH" statement appears in the lower-left corner of the checks.

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:

Irma Solis
Bookkeeper
Elsa State Bank and Trust Company
300 West Edinburg Avenue
P.O. Box 397
Elsa, Texas 78543-0397
Telephone: (956) 262-1391
Fax: (956) 262-4768
Email: irmasolis@elsastatebank.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-3054, 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/2010/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