ALERT 2002-9
ALERT	

Subject:      Unauthorized Banking	
Description:  Unauthorized Sale of Samoan Banking Licenses

Date:         August 8, 2002

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; Conference of 
     State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers 
     (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District 
     Counsel and Examining Personnel

RE:  Witherspoon, Seymour & Robinson Incorporated: Internet 
     marketing of banking licenses

The Office of the Registrar of International and Foreign 
Companies, Samoa, has informed us that the subject company 
is promoting "pre-approved banking licenses" issued by 
Samoa.  Subject is not a licensed trustee company in 
Samoa, which is the only entity permitted to submit 
license applications.  Accordingly, it has no legal 
authority to promote or solicit buyers for entities 
available under Samoa's offshore legislation.   
Furthermore, Samoa does not and has never issued "pre-
approved banking licenses."  A copy of that territory's 
notice is attached.

Any information which you may have concerning this matter 
should be brought to the attention of:

Mail:	  Registrar of International & Foreign Companies
	  PO Box 3265, Apia, Samoa
Fax:	  [685]  20-880
Phone:	  [685]  24-071
E-mail:	  offshore@iesamoa.net
and
Mail:	  Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
	  Enforcement & Compliance Division
	  250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC   20219 
Fax:	  (202) 874-5301
Internet: http://www.occ.treas.gov
E-mail:	  occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov


Brian C. McCormally
Director for Enforcement & Compliance Division

Attachment
[ http://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/alert/2002-9a.doc ]