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Financial Institution Letter

SPECIAL ALERT



TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SUBJECT: Unauthorized Sale of Samoan Banking Licenses

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has advised that the Office of the Registrar of International and Foreign Companies, Samoa, has issued a press release announcing that Witherspoon, Seymour & Robinson Incorporated (WSR II C.) is promoting "pre-approved banking licenses" purportedly issued by Samoa. This entity is not a licensed trustee company in Samoa, and only such companies are permitted to submit license applications. Accordingly, the entity has no legal authority to promote or solicit buyers for entities available under Samoa's offshore legislation. Samoa does not and has never issued "pre-approved banking licenses." A copy of the press release from Samoa is attached for your information.

Information about this entity should be brought to the attention of:

Registrar of International & Foreign Companies
P. O. Box 3265
Apia, Samoa
Phone: (685) 24-071
Fax: (685) 20-880
E-mail: offshore@iesamoa.net
Information about this entity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, NW, Room F-6012, Washington, DC 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov .

For your reference, all FDIC Financial Institution Letters published since January of 1995 may be found on the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov under "News, Events & FOIA." To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Financial Institution Letters through e-mail, please visit http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/announcements/index.html .

Michael J. Zamorski
Director

Attachment: Office of the Registrar of International and Foreign Companies

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

NOTE: Paper copies of FDIC financial institution letters may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (800-276-6003 or (703) 562-2200).


FIL-95-2002

Last Updated: August 27, 2002