Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Coastal Federal Bank, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and First Minnetonka City Bank, Minnetonka, Minnesota, are in circulation

Coastal Federal Bank, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has reported to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) that counterfeit cashier's checks are in circulation. The counterfeit instruments are drawn upon the bank and display the bank's routing number of 096016765. The counterfeit checks closely resemble the bank's genuine cashier's checks. A copy of a counterfeit check and a copy of an authentic official check (void) are attached for your review.

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

Mr. Ron Nolan
Security and Loss Prevention Officer
Coastal Federal Bank
2619 Oak Street
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577
Telephone: (843) 205-2652
FAX: (843) 205-2486

First Minnetonka City Bank, Minnetonka, Minnesota, has also reported to the FDIC that counterfeit cashier's checks are in circulation. The counterfeit instruments are drawn upon the bank and display the bank's routing number of 091014458. The counterfeit items are significantly different from the bank's authentic checks. Specifically, the bank's logo and telephone number are not provided on the counterfeit items. In addition, the authentic checks require two signatures for amounts over $1,000. A copy of a counterfeit check and a copy of an authentic official check (void) are attached for your review. Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Ms. Cindy Lindsley
Operations
First Minnetonka City Bank
1455 Excelsior Blvd.
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55345-5870
Telephone: (952) 935-5995
FAX: (952) 945-9876

Information concerning these financial institutions or instruments may be forwarded to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4040, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information 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 Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2004/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
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection