Equity Bank, A National Association, Andover, Kansas, 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 bear the routing number 101105354, which is assigned to Equity Bank, A National Association, but are dissimilar to authentic items. The counterfeit items include the bank's logo and name within a rectangular box located in the upper-left corner and directly above the words "CASHIER'S CHECK." The bank's name, city, state and a telephone number, not associated with the bank, appear in the top-center portion of the check.

Equity Bank does not issue cashier's checks. Authentic bank money orders display the bank's logo, name, address and telephone number in the top-center portion of the item. In the lower-left corner are the words "BANK MONEY ORDER." Authentic money orders include ornate borders, two signature lines in the lower-right corner and security-feature descriptions printed below the amount line. Authentic money orders are gray and have a holograph seal along the top.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic money order (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Julie Huber
Executive Vice President
Equity Bank
225 West Central
Andover, Kansas 67002
Phone: (316) 858-3100
Fax: (316) 630-8394
E-mail: julieh@equitywebbank.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. Information 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/2006/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)