Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Peoples Bank of East Tennessee, Vemore, Tennessee, are reportedly in circulation

Peoples Bank of East Tennessee, Madisonville, Tennessee, 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 264271183, which is assigned to Athens Federal Community Bank, Athens, Tennessee. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The words "CASHIERS CHECK" are top-centered. The bank's name and erroneous location ("Vemore, Tennessee") are displayed in the top-left corner.

Authentic cashier's checks display the routing number 064208398, which is assigned to Peoples Bank of East Tennessee. They are gray with a speckled background and have a gold foil strip across the top. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are in the lower left corner. The bank's logo, name, slogan, office name and location ("Madisonville, Tennessee") are in the top-center area. A security feature statement is below the written dollar amount line. A security padlock and vertical feature statement are 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:

Leonard Blevins
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Peoples Bank of East Tennessee
4511 Highway 411
Madisonville, Tennessee 37354
Telephone: (423) 442-7262, extension 8239
Fax: (423) 442-8056
E-mail: lblevins@peoplesbank-tn.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