Americrest Bank &Trust - Fictitious Official Checks and Certified Checks

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has learned that fictitious official checks and certified checks are being widely circulated. The checks bear the name Americrest Bank &Trust. Some show the address as Post Office Box 23202, Van Nuys, CA, while others show the address as P. O. Box 2012, Van Nuys, CA 91411. All show the telephone number 818-779-7778. There is no bank in California named Americrest Bank &Trust. The routing number 103000800 and account number 404760832 are used on both types of checks. The routing number is assigned to Americrest Bank, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a legitimate bank that has no offices in California. Copies of two of the fictitious checks are attached for your information.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Mr. Andy Rapoport
Vice President
Americrest Bank
P. O. Box 25676
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125-0676
Telephone: (405) 945-8100
Fax: (405) 943-5859

Information concerning these checks or similar items may be forwarded to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, NW, Room F-6012, Washington, DC 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov.

For your reference, all FDIC Financial Institution Letters published since January of 1995 may be found on the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov under "Newsroom, Events &FOIA." To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Financial Institution Letters through e-mail, please visit http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/announcements/index.html.

Michael J. ZamorskiDirector