Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Union Bank, Marksville, Louisiana, are reportedly in circulation

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

The counterfeit items display the routing number 051501778, which is assigned to Union Bank. The items display the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" within a rectangle with rounded corners in the top center. Security feature statements appear on both sides of the rectangle just below an ornate top border. The bank's name and a city and state not associated with the bank ("Marksville, Louisiana") appear in the top-left corner.

Authentic cashier's checks display the routing number 043404443, which is assigned to Union Bank. The checks display the bank's name and location in the top-centered area. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" and a "NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS" appear in the lower-left corner.

Copies of the counterfeit items 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:

Margaret Jeffries
Vice President and Security Officer
Union Bank
700 Wells Street
Sisterville, West Virginia 26175
Telephone: (304) 652-3511
Fax: (304) 652-2541
E-mail: mjeffries@hometownbanc.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