Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Great Western Bank are reportedly in circulation

Great Western Bank, Watertown, South Dakota, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 092005411, which is assigned to First Interstate Bank, Helena, Montana. Great Western Bank issues its cashier's checks through a payable-through account held at First Interstate Bank. The counterfeit items are very similar to authentic cashier's checks; however, the items have a security feature statement embedded in darkened top and bottom borders with rounded corners.

Authentic cashier's checks are blue with a basket-weave background and square corners.

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.

To verify the authenticity of a Great Western Bank cashier's check, call MoneyGram at 1-800-542-3590.

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

Karyl J. Somers
Vice President and Bank Secrecy Act/Security Officer
Great Western Bank
35 1st Avenue North East
P.O. Box 877
Watertown, South Dakota 57201
Telephone: (605) 886-1414
Fax: (605) 886-7088
E-mail: Karyl.Somers@greatwesternbank.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