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

Merchants & Southern Bank, Gainesville, Florida, 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 display the proper routing number of 051900353, which is the routing number for the clearing bank for Merchants & Southern Bank. The counterfeit items and the authentic checks are similar. However, the counterfeit checks have the words "Merchants & Southern Bank" printed on the amount line just before the amount and on the Drawer line. The counterfeit check is also missing the dark shading along the top of the MICR line and the left side of the check. Authentic checks have the dark shading along the left side of the check and above the numbers on the MICR line. Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic cashier's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Roger L. Snare
Vice President Compliance and Security
Merchants & Southern Bank
2040 NW 67 Place
Gainesville, Florida 32653
Telephone: (352) 264-7100
Fax: (352) 378-1452
Email: rsnare@ms-bank.com

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2005/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 online copies of fraudulent instruments or copies of the genuine instruments that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use the electronic versions of these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Printed copies of fraudulent instruments are mailed with the Special Alert letter to the financial institutions on the letter's distribution list (generally, FDIC-supervised banks – commercial and savings). Printed copies of the Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (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)