Counterfeit official checks bearing the name 1st National Bank of South Florida are reportedly in circulation

1st National Bank of South Florida, Homestead, Florida, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. 1st National Bank of South Florida does not issue official checks; however, it does issue cashier's checks.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 063106705, which is assigned to First National Bank, Wauchula, Florida. The counterfeit items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks and have scrolled borders on the top and sides. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are top-centered inside a rectangle with security feature statements on each side. A restrictive amount statement is displayed above two signature lines.

Authentic cashier's checks display the routing number 067005145, which is assigned to 1st National Bank of South Florida. A security feature statement is embedded in a darkened top border. A "NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS" statement is in the top-center area, and the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are in the lower-left corner.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items can be modified and that additional variations may be presented.

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

Elaine Berryman
Vice President
1st National Bank of South Florida
1550 North Krome Avenue
Homestead, Florida 33030
Telephone: (305) 247-5541
Fax: (305) 248-1090
E-mail: eberryman@1stnatbank.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-3054, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Questions 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 website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2010/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Sandra L. ThompsonDirector
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection