Union Bank of California Extends Its Check Fraud Detection Capabilities

  
    
  
  
    
      Union Bank of California, N.A. announced expanded fraud protection that 
      will automate and enhance the bank’s current 
      check fraud detection capabilities.
    
    
      With this new suite of products, the bank has broadened its positive pay 
      service to detect any alterations to a check, including payee names. 
      Positive Pay clients will now receive notification of suspicious items 
      as early as possible in the process, providing the bank’s 
      most efficient and cost-effective defense system against check fraud. 
      The positive pay system verifies static check information such as issue 
      date, dollar amount, check number, account number and payee name.
    
    
      “As methods to commit check fraud become more 
      sophisticated and prevalent, we have increased our efforts to provide 
      our customers with the right tools to help them protect their business 
      assets. We continually look for more advanced technologies that expand 
      our broad range of check fraud detection services for our commercial 
      customers,” said Executive Vice President 
      JoAnn Bourne.
    
    
      According to Alok Ahuja, senior vice president in product management, 
      the new technology provides a streamlined service to capture fraudulent 
      checks as soon as they are presented to the bank. “Fraudsters 
      have learned to take advantage of the limitations of traditional fraud 
      detection systems. By adding automated payee name validation, the bank 
      can now offer a positive pay service that provides an even higher level 
      of protection,” said Ahuja.
    
    
      Based in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation (NYSE:UB) is a bank 
      holding company with assets of $54.6 billion at March 31, 2007. Its 
      primary subsidiary, Union Bank of California, N.A., had 321 banking 
      offices in California, Oregon and Washington, and 2 international 
      offices at March 31, 2007. The company's Web site is located at www.unionbank.com.