Counterfeit official checks bearing the name AmericanTrust Federal Savings Bank, Peru, Indiana, are reportedly in circulation

Americantrust (AmericanTrust) Federal Savings Bank, Peru, Indiana,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 number274970775, which is assigned to Americantrust Federal Savings Bank. The items are similar to authentic official checks; however, they have ornate borders. A security feature statement is embedded in the top border and the bottom border.

Authentic official checks are pale green with dark green top and bottom borders. A padlock icon and vertical security feature statements are along the right border.

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:

Jeffrey A. Altmiller
Security Officer
Americantrust Federal Savings Bank
915 West Main
Peru, Indiana 46970
Telephone: (765) 459-4171
Fax: (765) 459-4350
E-mail:jaltmiller@americantrustbank.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, 3501 North Fairfax Drive, CH-11034, Arlington, Virginia 22226, or transmitted electronically toalert@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 athttp://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site atwww.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2011/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visitwww.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Sandra L. ThompsonDirector
Division of Risk Management Supervision