Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co, Chicago, Illinois, are reportedly in circulation

Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, Chicago, Illinois,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 number071002707, which is assigned to Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company. The items display the bank's logo, name, city, state and ZIP code in the lower-left corner. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are inside of a box in the top center. The word "REMITTER" appears near the top-left corner. A restrictive feature statement is displayed below the right side of the written dollar amount line.

Authentic cashier's checks display the bank's logo, name, city, state and ZIP code, and the word "REMITTER" followed by a line in the top-left corner. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear in the lower-left corner. The words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" appear below the signature line in the lower-right 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:

Martha Gonzalez
Fraud Prevention Coordinator
2201 West Cermak Road
Chicago, Illinois 60608
Telephone: (773) 890-3541
Fax: (773) 890-3548
E-mail:magonzalez@metropolitanbank.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 toalert@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 athttp://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site atwww.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2011/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visitwww.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Sandra L. ThompsonDirector
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection