Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of Bay Cities National Bank, Redondo Beach, CA

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks issued in the bank’s name and using the bank’s correct routing number, 122239270, are being presented for payment. 

The counterfeit checks may be identified by the following: a standard check stock which is light purple in color and contains the bank’s name in the upper-left corner.  The following phrase appears directly below the bank name “The Community Bank of the South Bay,” and a fictitious telephone number of “800-664-0155” appears below the phrase.  The check contains a dark border at the top that includes the notice:  “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING.  THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.”  The words “Check No.” appear in the top-right corner of the check, and the sections for Date, Pay to the Order of, Memo, Signature, and dollar amounts are underscored. The words “CASHIER’S CHECK” appears in the lower-left portion of the instrument. 

Authentic cashier’s checks issued by the bank are light blue in color with a faint image of the bank logo over a fading pattern of the bank name.  The printed wording throughout the check is a darker blue in color.  There is a strip along the top of the check in yellow with a statement “DO NOT CASH IF THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT HAVE A FAINT IMAGE OF THE BANK LOGO OVER A FADING PATTERN OF THE BANK NAME.”  A similar strip appears at the bottom of the check with the following:  “WARNING:  THIS DOCUMENT HAS A TRUE WATERMARK AND VISIBLE FIBERS – HOLD UP TO THE LIGHT TO VIEW.”  The bank’s logo and bank name appear in the top-left portion with the phrase “Your Premier Community Bank,” the bank’s address of “1333 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Redondo Beach, CA  90277” and two blank lines that are underscored.  The following statement appears at the top center portion of the check “AN INDEMNITY BOND SHALL BE REQUIRED BEFORE ANY OFFICIAL CHECK OF THIS BANK WILL BE REPLACED OR REFUNDED IF LOST, MISPLACED OR STOLEN.”  The words “CASHIER’S CHECK” appear directly under the statement.  The Pay To The Order Of and dollar amount sections include enclosed boxes for the information.  The statement “Member FDIC” appears in the bottom-left portion of the check. 

You can verify the authenticity of Bay Cities National Bank’s cashier’s checks by contacting Rowena Libra, operations administrator, at 1333 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Redondo Beach, CA  90277, by telephone at (310) 540-2265 ext 212, by fax at 310-316-1005 or via email at [rlibra@bcnb.net].

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

Brian C. McCormally
Director for Enforcement & Compliance