+--------+---+-----------------------+--------+----------------------+---+
| # O    | # |                       |        |                      | # |
|        | # |                       |        |                      |   |
| ##     | # |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | # |                       |        |                      | # |
|        |   |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | A |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | L |                       |        |                      | # |
|        | E |                       |        |                      | # |
|        | R |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | T |                       |        |                      |   |
|        |   |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | 2 |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | 0 |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | 0 |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | 6 |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | - |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | 4 |                       |        |                      |   |
+--------+---+-----------------------+--------+----------------------+---+
|        | * |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | * |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | O |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | C |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | C |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | A |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | L |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | E |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | R |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | T |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | * |                       |        |                      |   |
|        | * |                       |        |                      |   |
+--------+---+-----------------------+--------+----------------------+---+
| ## Com |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| ptroll |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| er of  |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| the Cu |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| rrency |   |                       |        |                      |   |
|        |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| > A    |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| dminis |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| trator |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| > of   |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| > Na   |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| tional |   |                       |        |                      |   |
| >      |   |                       |        |                      |   |
|  Banks |   |                       |        |                      |   |
+--------+---+-----------------------+--------+----------------------+---+
| ## Su  |   | Counterfeit Cashier's | Descri | Northern Trust Bank  |   |
| bject: |   | Checks                | ption: | of California, N.A.  |   |
+--------+---+-----------------------+--------+----------------------+---+

**TO:** Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State
Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Director,
Office of Thrift Supervision; Conference of State Bank Supervisors;
Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District
Counsel; and All Examining Personnel

**RE:** Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of Northern Trust Bank of
California, N.A., Los Angeles, CA

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks,
issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of
122242173, are being presented for payment. The counterfeit checks
differ from the authentic checks.

The counterfeit checks may be identified by the following: a standard
check stock, which includes a logo of an anchor enclosed in a shaded
rectangular box in the top-center portion of the check. The bank's full
name is printed in the top-left portion of the check followed by the
words "Los Angeles Office [www.northerntrust.com]{.underline}."
Appearing directly below the Web site address is the bank's actual logo
of an anchor and rope enclosed in a circle with the words "Northern
Trust" appearing to the right, and the words "Cashier's Check" appearing
in the bottom-left portion of the check. There are several similarities
with the counterfeit items. Most counterfeit items are light green in
color, dated December 29, 2005, made out in the amount of \$3,800,
include a *Remitter* name of Frederick Waweru, and use a 6-digit serial
number in the 880000 series. Some of the items include a security
statement in the top border of the check; others do not.

> Authentic cashier's checks issued by the bank are: white in color with
> fine green lines, include a green border around the entire item and
> contain a security watermark. The bank's anchor logo (anchor with rope
> enclosed in a circle) appears in the top-center portion of the check
> and is enclosed in a shaded box with rounded corners. The bank's full
> name is printed in the top-left portion of the check followed by the
> words "Los Angeles Office [www.northerntrust.com]{.underline}."
> Appearing directly below the Web site address is a smaller version of
> the bank's anchor logo with the words "Northern Trust" appearing to
> the right. The words "Cashier's Check" appear in the bottom-left
> portion of the check.

You can verify the authenticity of Northern Trust Bank of California,
N.A.'s cashier's checks by contacting Susan Turay, 2^nd^ vice president,
at 355 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071, by telephone at (602)
468-2582, by fax at (602) 912-8696 or via e-mail at \[sjt2@ntrs.com\].
In addition, Cheryl Dodge, vice president, may be contacted at (805)
884-4303.

> Additional information concerning this matter that you believe should
> be brought to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:

E-mail: occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov

Mail: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Enforcement & Compliance Division, MS 8-10

250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219

Fax: (202) 874-5301

Internet: [http://www.occ.treas.gov](http://www.occ.treas.gov/)

For additional information on this and other types of financial fraud,
please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resource at:
<http://www.occ.treas.gov/fraudresources.htm> .

Brian C. McCormally

Director for Enforcement & Compliance