CITGO PlusPAY: Fueling Savings with New Direct-to-Bank Mobile Payment

HOUSTON, TX – February 23, 2026 – CITGO Petroleum Corporation today rolled out CITGO PlusPAY™, a new mobile payment feature designed to provide customers with significant fuel savings by linking their bank accounts directly to the Club CITGO® app. The move signals a major push to modernize its loyalty program, directly challenging competitors in the fierce battle for customer allegiance at the pump while offering a substantial financial lifeline to its network of independent station owners.

This new feature, built on the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, allows users to pay for fuel and in-store purchases securely from their smartphones, bypassing the need for physical credit or debit cards. By doing so, CITGO is tapping into a growing consumer demand for integrated digital wallets that combine payment, rewards, and transaction management in a single, seamless experience.

The Battle for the Digital Wallet

CITGO's introduction of PlusPAY is a strategic maneuver in the highly competitive fuel retail landscape, where major brands are increasingly leveraging technology to lock in customer loyalty. The new feature places CITGO in direct competition with established programs like ExxonMobil's Rewards+ app, which offers a similar bank-linked payment option called Direct Debit+ that also provides a daily discount of 10 cents per gallon.

While other industry giants like Shell and Chevron have robust mobile apps and loyalty programs, their primary payment integrations have often centered on traditional credit cards and popular digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Shell’s Fuel Rewards Program and Chevron’s Texaco Rewards offer points-based systems, but CITGO's focus on a direct ACH payment method with a guaranteed, substantial cents-per-gallon discount marks a clear effort to differentiate and capture a specific segment of the market: the cost-conscious consumer and the fee-weary retailer.

By adopting an ACH-based system, CITGO is not just offering another payment method but is fundamentally changing the transaction's economics. This positions the company to compete more aggressively on price and value, a critical factor as fuel prices remain a key concern for household budgets.

A Two-Sided Value Proposition

The appeal of CITGO PlusPAY is designed to resonate with two distinct but interconnected audiences: drivers looking to save money and the approximately 4,000 locally owned and operated CITGO stations.

For consumers, the incentives are immediate and compelling. New users of PlusPAY are greeted with a one-time introductory reward of four separate 25-cent-per-gallon discounts, each applicable on a fill-up of up to 30 gallons. Following this initial promotion, members will receive an everyday savings of at least 10 cents off per gallon on every PlusPAY transaction, which can be stacked with other loyalty offers available through the Club CITGO app. This consistent discount provides a tangible and predictable benefit that goes beyond complex points systems.

Perhaps more significantly, the program addresses a major pain point for retailers. Credit card “swipe fees,” which can range from 1.5% to 3.5% of a transaction's total, represent the second-highest operating cost for most convenience and fuel retailers. These percentage-based fees become particularly burdensome as fuel prices rise. Research indicates that the convenience store industry paid over $19.7 billion in such fees in 2023 alone. In contrast, PlusPAY offers retailers a flat, predictable transaction fee, providing a substantial reduction in payment processing costs and directly boosting their bottom line. This financial relief is a powerful incentive for CITGO's independent operators to promote the app and can ultimately foster a stronger, more profitable network.

Security and Convenience at the Core

As consumers increasingly adopt mobile payments, security remains a paramount concern. CITGO is addressing this by leveraging the established security of the ACH network, which is governed by strict federal regulations and industry rules. This system is widely recognized as a secure and efficient alternative to card-based transactions.

“Our CITGO PlusPAY mobile payment method employs advanced encryption and real-time authorization protocols, ensuring transactional security from initial enrollment through every payment,” said Joey Low, Manager of Marketing and Loyalty Programs for the company. “This architecture provides robust fraud protection and identity verification, eliminating the necessity for physical currency and offering customers a streamlined, digitally secure method for their fuel or in-store purchases.”

The convenience factor extends beyond security. By integrating payment directly from a bank account, the PlusPAY system eliminates the temporary debit holds that are common when using a debit card at the pump. The entire process—from linking an account to completing a purchase and viewing transaction history—is managed within the Club CITGO app, creating an all-in-one tool for drivers.

A Piece of a Broader Digital Strategy

The launch of PlusPAY is not an isolated initiative but a key component of CITGO’s long-term digital transformation strategy. The company has been steadily building its technological capabilities to enhance customer engagement and support its retail partners. In 2025, CITGO consolidated its mobile offerings into a single, streamlined Club CITGO app, replacing its previous CITGO Pay system and setting the stage for more advanced features.

This forward-looking strategy includes an aggressive roadmap for expanding its tech stack, with stated goals of doubling its loyalty program membership and transaction volumes. The company is also exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and has signaled future plans to integrate with third-party delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats, enabling its retailers to grow their in-store sales beyond the forecourt.

By weaving PlusPAY into this broader ecosystem, CITGO is working to create a sticky, value-driven platform that not only rewards customers for their fuel purchases but also deepens their engagement with the brand and its local retailers. This strategic investment in technology demonstrates a clear commitment to evolving with consumer habits and solidifying its market position for years to come.