George Washington Savings Bank, Orland Park, Illinois, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution’s name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 071004501, which is assigned to The Federal Home Loan Bank, Chicago, Illinois. The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic cashier’s checks and do not display the words “Cashier’s Check.” The counterfeit items display the address “14701 S. LaGrange RD, Orland Park, IL 60462” below the bank’s name in the upper-left corner. The words “Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Oak Lawn, IL” and “FOR” appear in the lower-left corner.

Authentic checks display the routing number 271972844, which is assigned to George Washington Savings Bank. The words “CASHIER’S CHECK” appear in the lower-left corner. The address “10240 S. Cicero Ave, Oak Lawn, IL 60453” and the word “Remitter” appear below the bank’s name in the upper-left corner. A padlock icon and security feature statement are printed vertically along the right side. The words “Authorized Signature” are printed 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:

Amando D. Melgar, III
Senior Vice President
George Washington Savings Bank
14701 South LaGrange Road
Orland Park, Illinois 60462
Telephone: (708) 590-7260
Fax: (708) 226-6619
E-mail: amelgar@georgewashingtonsb.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-4004, 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/2008/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center (telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200; fax: 703-562-2296; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)