Southern Bank and Trust Company, Mount Olive, North Carolina, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's routing number are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 053102586, which is assigned to Southern Bank and Trust Company. The counterfeit items also display "BANK FUND STAFF FEDERAL CREDIT UNION" and the phrase "Serving the Staffs and Families of The World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund, Washington, D.C." in the top-left corner.

Authentic cashier's checks have no association with the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund. Additionally, in the top-left corner, authentic cashier's checks display "Since 1901" and "SouthernBank" on two lines. Next to "1901" is the bank's authentic logo.

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:

David Bean
Controller
Southern Bank and Trust Company
116 E. Main Street
Mt. Olive, North Carolina 28365
Telephone: (919) 658-7007
Fax: (919) 658-7087
E-mail: david.bean@southernbank.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)