Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Santa Clara Valley Bank, NA, Santa Paula, California, and Bank of Brookhaven, Brookhaven, Mississippi, are reportedly in circulation

Santa Clara Valley Bank, N.A., Santa Paula, California, has reported to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) that counterfeit cashier's checks are in circulation. The counterfeit items are drawn upon the bank and display the proper routing number of 122242827. The counterfeit items are similar to the authentic cashier's checks; however, the authentic instruments have two signature lines, and above those lines is printed "NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS." Additionally, the authentic cashier's checks have a thin border across the top of the check. The counterfeit items have a single signature line and full decorative border, and do not have the printed notice above the signature line. A copy of an authentic cashier's check (void) and a copy of a counterfeit item are attached for your review.

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

Ms. Marla DeZavala
Senior Vice President/CFO
Santa Clara Valley Bank, N.A.
901 East Main Street
Santa Paula, CA 93060
Telephone: (805) 525-1999
Fax: (805) 525-1512

Bank of Brookhaven, Brookhaven, Mississippi, has also reported to the FDIC that counterfeit cashier's checks are in circulation. The counterfeit items state "PAYABLE THROUGH U.S. BANK, ST. PAUL, MN" and have the proper routing number of 096016765. The counterfeit items closely resemble the authentic cashier's checks; however, the counterfeit items display "BANK OF BROOKHAVEN" on the amount line, which is not present on the authentic checks. Additionally, the authentic instruments display "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" below the signature line, which is absent from the counterfeit items. A copy of a counterfeit check and a copy of an authentic cashier's check (void) are attached for your review.

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

Ms. Sue Smith
Vice President
Bank of Brookhaven
411 Brookway Boulevard
Brookhaven, MS 39601
Telephone: (601) 835-3033
Fax: (601) 835-4030

Information about 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. ZamorskiDirectorDivision of Supervision and Consumer Protection