FREMONT, California - October 30, 2009 - Fremont Bank, a leading full-service community bank in Northern California, is quickly responding to help spread the word to its clients and community about an e-mail scam that purportedly came from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). According to the FDIC, the deceptive e-mail messages provide a link to a fraudulent FDIC website, instructing users to download and open a "personal FDIC Insurance File" to check their deposit insurance coverage.

The phony FDIC e-mails state, “You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets.”

The e-mails ask recipients to “visit the official FDIC website” by clicking on a hyperlink provided, which appears to be related to the FDIC and directs recipients to a fraudulent Web site. The Web site includes hyperlinks that appear to open forms. However, it is believed that clicking on the hyperlinks will cause an unknown executable file to be downloaded.

While the FDIC is working with the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to determine the exact effects of the executable file, recipients should consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt to collect personal or confidential information. This may be used to gain unauthorized access to various services or to conduct identity theft. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the Web site or download the executable files provided on the Web site.

Fremont Bank is assertively informing its clients and community that these e-mails are fake and were not sent by the FDIC. The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission. In the meantime, the FDIC is also instructing recipients to:

• Not follow unsolicited Web links received in e-mail messages
• Verify the Web site by manually typing the URL when attempting to connect to the Web sites recommended in an e-mail
• Call or write if there are any suspicions

About Fremont Bank
Fremont Bank (www.fremontbank.com) is the leading full-service community bank in Northern California. Founded in 1964, Fremont Bank is one of the oldest independent family owned and managed banks in the region and focuses on personalized service for individuals and businesses. It serves communities through 23 branches and seven additional ATMs throughout the Greater Bay Area. Exceptional client service is the cornerstone of Fremont Bank's business. Accommodation of customer needs in a friendly, personal atmosphere characterizes the Bank's culture.