Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on California National Bank, Century City, California, and Firstbank - West Branch, West Branch, Michigan, are in circulation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has learned that counterfeit cashier's checks, drawn on California National Bank, Century City, California, are currently in circulation. The counterfeit instruments include the routing number 122000496, which belongs to Union Bank of California. The address of the California National Bank branch on the counterfeit item also does not have the word "Stars" capitalized. Attached for your review is copy of a counterfeit item. A counterfeit check presented for deposit, however, would not have a stamp ("NO ACCOUNT/UNABLE TO LOCATE") as shown on the exhibit.

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

Ms. Irma Rios-Rodriguez
Assistant Vice President
California National Bank
221 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
Telephone: (213) 443-1752
FAX: (213) 620-1272

In addition, counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on the Firstbank - West Branch, West Branch, Michigan, and payable through Huntington National Bank, are in circulation. The items bear Firstbank - West Branch's routing number of 044015543. The reported counterfeit items appear to be indistinguishable from the bank's official instruments. A copy of a counterfeit item and a genuine official check (void) are attached for your review.

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

Ms. Marie Wilkins
Vice President - Operations
Firstbank - West Branch
502 W. Houghton Ave.
West Branch, Michigan 48861
Telephone: (989) 345-7900
FAX: (989) 343-6428

Information concerning these financial institutions or instruments may be forwarded to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, NW, Room F-4040, Washington, DC. 20429. Information also may be transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2003/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts, Financial Institution Letters and other announcements through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/news/news/announcements/index.html.

Michael J. ZamorskiDirector