Bank issues credit card to cat

2007-01-04 08:35

Sydney - An Australian bank has blushingly admitted issuing a credit card to a cat. Messiah, a ginger tom, was given a credit limit of AU$4 200 (R23 168).

Messiah's owner applied for an additional Visa card in his name on her account with the Bank of Queensland to test its identity security system - and was astonished when it was granted.

"I just couldn't believe it," Katherine Campbell told local media, cradling the cool cat and his card. "People need to be aware of this and banks need to have better security."

The envelope containing her cat's credit card was addressed to Messiah Campbell and she was not even notified that a secondary card had been issued on her account, she said.

A Bank of Queensland spokeswoman admitted issuing the card to the cat.

"We have investigated the issue and it appears the bank has made an error," she said. "We apologise as this should not have happened."

The incident may have given the bank pause for thought, but any hopes Messiah may have had of making some large purchases of fish and cream were dashed when the card was cancelled.

- AFP