State of Franklin Savings Bank, Johnson City, Tennessee (a division of Jefferson Federal Bank, Morristown, Tennessee), has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the name "State of Franklin Savings Bank" are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 064272421, which is assigned to State of Franklin Savings Bank. The items are similar to authentic official checks; however, the counterfeit items are blue and display the following security statement embedded within the top border: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A COLORED BORDER AND BACKGROUND PLUS A KNIGHT & FINGERPRINT WATERMARK ON THE BACK- HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW."

Authentic official checks are light green and display the following security statement embedded within the top border: "VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS GREEN MULTI-TONE SECURITY DOCUMENT- GREENCOLOR DENSITY LIGHTENS TOWARD CENTER." The bank's telephone number ("423-926-3300") is displayed below the bank's name and address in the top-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:

Sarah Harold
Security Officer
State of Franklin Savings Bank
P.O. Box 940
1907 North Roan Street
Johnson City, Tennessee 37601
Telephone: (423) 722-9826
Fax: (423) 232-4448
E-mail: sharold@sofb.com

Alternate Contact:

Chris Harrington
Internal Auditor
State of Franklin Savings Bank
P.O. Box 940
1907 North Roan Street
Johnson City, Tennessee 37601
Telephone: (423) 722-9828
Fax: (423) 232-4448
E-mail: charrington@sofb.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/2009/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)