An American bank has launched an investigation after mistakenly issuing a three-year-old girl with a credit card.

Jane Hughes reports on pre-school toddler's platinum card

The girl's parents, who live in Rochester in New York state, applied for the card as a joke and were stunned when she was sent a platinum card with a $5,000 credit limit.

At three years old, Alessandra Scalise is too young even to be able to sign her name, but that did not deter First Charter Bank from giving her a credit card.

Initially, they sent Alessandra a pre-approved credit application form and her parents filled it in as a joke.

For occupation they wrote "pre-schooler" and for reason for wanting the card, they said: "I would like to buy more toys but mum says not until I'm older."

$5,000 credit limit

Alessandra's mother Antonia was astonished when a platinum card with a $5,000 credit limit arrived a few days later.

Mrs Scalise checked the card was valid by using it to buy groceries, but she decided not to succumb to her daughter's requests to get ballet shoes and a pet dog on credit.

First Charter says it is embarrassed by the mistake and is investigating how it happened.

But to Americans, accustomed to receiving dozens of letters offering credit cards every month, the Scalises' experience comes as no surprise.