Fuel Discounts With Credit Cards
Fuel is expensive, and in sparsely populated Finland, many people still have to buy it. It’s worth using every available option to reduce fuel costs. The most effective tactics are driving less and refuelling at low‑priced stations. These aren’t always enough, so it’s smart to consider other ways to save as well.
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A few fuel station chains in Finland offer fuel cards that provide discounts and other perks at their own stations. Some cards are limited to fuel and forecourt purchases, but a small number are standard credit cards with an added fuel benefit. This article introduces the fuel card options available in Finland.
S-Etukortti Visa
S-Etukortti Visa cards are debit or credit cards with no monthly fee for S Group members. Although there’s no monthly fee, the credit card has a 2-euro monthly billing fee. These are basic-level Visa cards you can use almost anywhere, including outside the S Group.
S-Etukortti Visa cards provide a 0.5 per cent payment method benefit at ABC stations, plus a 0–5 cent bonus per litre of fuel. The bonus is paid as cash into your S Account. The exact bonus depends on your co-op’s bonus table.
Because ABC stations are typically expensive places to refuel, S-Etukortti Visa cards don’t deliver significant savings. Only by reaching the highest bonus tier — earning 5 cents per litre — does the card offer a meaningful discount. That often requires concentrating other purchases with the S Group as well.
Curve Pay
Curve Pay is a British debit card that charges purchases in real time to another card you choose, such as an S-Bank Visa. In other words, Curve is a mobile wallet that lets you add multiple payment methods.
On Curve’s paid tiers, you can earn 1 per cent cashback on purchases at Shell stations. This applies to all purchases at the stations, including fuel. The cashback is paid in British pounds and can be automatically applied to future purchases made with the Curve card, even if those purchases are in euros.
Because you can pay with Curve anywhere Mastercard is accepted, and it offers many other benefits, Curve is a strong choice. It suits international consumers who travel and drive a lot. You also get cashback at Shell stations abroad.
Read Our Curve Pay Review.
SEO Consumer Benefit Card
SEO offers consumers its own benefit card. The card has no monthly fee and provides a station-specific discount on the fuel price.
The card must be scanned before payment at the cashier or the pump. The discount doesn’t apply when paying by credit card, so we recommend paying for fuel with a Curve card or cash.
Fuel Payment Apps
Fuel station chains are replacing card products with apps installed on your phone. In that case, the fuel purchase is paid in the app rather than at the station’s card reader.
St1 Way
With the St1 Way app, you can pay at Shell and St1 stations. You need to add a standard payment card to the app for charging. The St1 Way app is useful because it offers at least a 1-cent discount per litre, up to 5 cents during campaigns. With the St1 Way app, you also get the discount at Shell Express stations.
ABC Mobile
ABC Mobile is the S Group’s payment app for ABC stations. You must add a payment card to the app, but the app itself doesn’t provide extra discounts. You will continue to receive the S Group payment method and its benefits and bonuses.
Neste
The Neste Fueling App is very easy to use and works well. You also need to add a debit or credit card to this app. Its drawback is that it provides cashback only occasionally during campaigns. Even then, Neste Express stations are usually excluded from the discount.
Which Fuel Card Is Best?
The number of fuel benefit cards in Finland has decreased, and the selection is unfortunately limited. There are only a few options, the discounts are small, and the cards carry fees.
We recommend the following combination for fuel purchases:
With St1 cash discount cards, you get about 2 cents off per litre at Shell stations. Paying for fuel with the Curve Pay adds 1 percent cashback.
As an alternative, we recommend the Bank Norwegian Card or the Morrow Bank Card. Both earn rewards and have no fees. That way, the bonus applies to nearly all purchases, not just fuel.
Questions and Answers
- What Fuel Discount Cards Are Available in Finland?
- S-Etukortti Visa cards and a few cash discount cards are the best-known fuel cards in Finland. We also recommend checking out the international Curve card.
- How Much Discount Does Curve Offer on Fuel?
- With the Curve card, you can earn 1% cash back on fuel purchases at Shell stations.
- Can You Use Curve’s Benefits at St1 Stations as well?
- In our experience, the Curve benefit was also available at St1 stations.
- Does The St1 Cash Discount Card Give a Discount at Shell Express and St1 Stations?
- You get it at St1 stations but not at Shell Express stations.
- Is It Worth Using the Credit Feature on Fuel Cards?
- Using the credit feature increases your total costs. For that reason, it isn’t worth it.
Bottom Line
By paying for fuel smartly, you can trim your driving costs a bit. While the total discount is relatively small, it adds up over a year for someone who drives frequently. That’s why the benefits of the right payment cards shouldn’t be underestimated.
In our experience, the best discounts tended to be at St1 and Shell stations. That’s likely partly a coincidence, as the UK-based Curve offers benefits specifically at Shell stations. The good news is that you also get these benefits at the lower-priced Shell Express stations, though not fully at St1 stations. Explore the fuel card options and choose the one that best suits you.