Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Pacific Crest Savings Bank, Lynnwood, Washington, are reportedly in circulation

Pacific Crest Savings Bank, Lynnwood, Washington, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 125184610, which is assigned to Pacific Crest Savings Bank. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are in the top-center area. A security padlock icon is embedded within the right border of the counterfeit items.

Authentic checks display the routing number 125000105, which is assigned to US Bank, Seattle, Washington. Pacific Crest Savings Bank issues its cashier's checks though an account at US Bank. The authentic checks have a security feature statement embedded in a darkened top border. The words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" appear below the signature line in the lower-right 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:

Gena R. Emerson
Vice President
Pacific Crest Savings Bank
3500 188th Street, SW
Suite 575
Lynnwood, Washington 98037
Telephone: (425) 670-9605
Fax (425) 670-9688
Email: gemerson@paccrest.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