Each depositor insured to at least $250,000 per insured bank

Mission Community Bank, San Luis Obispo, California, 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 are reportedly associated with a sweepstakes scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 044000037, which is not assigned to Mission Community Bank. The items, which are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks, display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top center. The name "Mission Community Bank, N.A." and the bank's address are printed in the upper-left corner. Embedded within the top border is the statement "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER." Embedded within the bottom border is the statement "THE BACK OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK-HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW." The counterfeit items include a tiled-rectangular grid for the printed dollar amount, with the following statement directly below the grid: "NOT VALID FOR AMOUNTS GREATER THAN $3,500.00." Above the signature line, the following statement is printed: "NOT NEGOTIABLE AFTER MAY 31, 2007." The counterfeit items also have a padlock symbol within the right border and display a "VOID" background when copied.

Authentic checks display the routing number 122242649, which is assigned to Mission Community Bank. "Cashier's Check," in scroll print, appears in the lower left. The bank's "m" logo, name and address are displayed in the top-left corner. Embedded within the top border is the statement: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINT." Embedded within the bottom border is the statement: "THE BACK OF THIS CHECK MUST CONTAIN AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK OR IS VOID." Authentic checks also include the word "REMITTER" in the lower-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:

Karen Campbell
Senior Vice President and Compliance Officer
Mission Community Bank
581 Higuera Street
San Luis Obispo, California 93401
Telephone: (805) 269-0017
Fax: (805) 782-5034
E-mail: kcampbell@missioncommunitybank.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/2007/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)