Humboldt Reports Theft Related to ATM

Humboldt Bancorp, a Northern California thrift, said it is missing $5 million and can’t find the head of a company it hired to fill automated teller machines with cash.

Humboldt will take a fourth-quarter charge of $3.1 million, or 29 cents a share, related to the “apparent theft,” the bank said.

The missing contract employee, whom the company didn’t name, was in charge of servicing 138 ATMs in New York and New Jersey. Humboldt was unable to locate him after noticing “irregularities” in the operation last week and contacted law enforcement officials.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Jersey authorities are investigating the case, Chief Financial Officer Pat Rusnak said. Humboldt noticed the irregularities internally, he said.

Shares of Eureka, Calif.-based Humboldt fell 35 cents to $8.20 on Nasdaq.

The bank has $951 million in assets.