Alert 2005-30 | December 12, 2005

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of Community State Bank, N.A., Ankeny, Iowa

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel; and All Examining Personnel

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks issued in the bank’s name and using a correct routing number of 073910114 are being presented for payment.

The counterfeit checks may be identified by the following: a nonstandard check stock that is light green in color with a triangular patterned ribbon border. The checks use an old bank logo in the top-center portion of the instrument. The old logo includes an umbrella over the bank name with the letters CSB listed vertically inside of a shaded box. The phrase “A financial services company” appears below the logo, and the statement “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE, WATERMARK AND A THERMOCHROIC ICON; ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY” appears below the amount line. The most frequently used remitter names appearing on the checks are: Peter Guellet, Dennis Pallwitz, Jo Willey, and George Thompson. Checks are being presented for payment of purchases to individuals and businesses.

Authentic cashier’s checks issued by the bank are a light currency green in color with a triangular patterned border. The bank’s name “community state bank” appears in the top-center portion of the check directly beneath the bank’s underlined logo of “csb” in an enlarged font. The new logo does NOT include an umbrella. All issued checks display asterisks before and after the numerical dollar amount and the written dollar amount. The following statement appears beneath the amount line: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE, WATERMARK AND A THERMOCHROIC ICON; ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY.” On the back of the check, there is a thermo-sensitive red padlock. By placing your finger over the padlock, body heat will alter the padlock’s appearance.

You can verify the authenticity of Community State Bank, N.A.’s cashier’s checks by contacting Scott Starr, Security Officer, at 817 N. Ankeny Boulevard, PO Box 127, Ankeny, IA 50021, by telephone at (515) 252-1131, by fax at (515) 276-4509, or via email at [sstarr@bankcsb.com].

Additional information concerning this matter that you believe should be brought to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:

Email:	occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
Mail:	Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Enforcement & Compliance Division, MS 8-10 250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219
Fax:	(202) 874-5301
Internet:	https://www.occ.gov

Brian C. McCormally
Director for Enforcement & Compliance

Topic(s):

Counterfeit/Stolen Instruments