OREANDA-NEWS. June 23, 2009. ZAO Citibank, Neste - chain of gas stations and MasterCard are launching a new Credit Card designed especially for St. Petersburg car owners. Now car drivers in St. Petersburg who purchase fuel from Neste stations may get partial refund on the purchases they make. Every time Neste-Citibank-MasterCard cardholders use their new cards to pay for goods or services at Neste or anywhere else, they accumulate bonus rubles to pay for Neste fuel, reported the press-centre of Citibank.

One percent of the amount of each purchase made with the new Credit Card will be transferred to Neste's magnetic card; then the accumulated rubles may be used to pay for fuel, goods or services at any Neste gas station including A24 automatic stations. Clients may obtain Neste's magnetic card immediately after opening a Neste-Citibank-MasterCard Credit Card.

The joint Credit Card product based on MasterCard Standard® and premium World MasterCard® can be used for making purchases and withdrawing cash anywhere in the world as well as for transactions made over the Internet and for paying utility bills.

Alongside such benefits as interest-free grace period and revolving credit line of up to 600 000 rubles, Neste-Citibank-MasterCard credit card gives a regular discount of 20 kopeks for each litre of gas. In addition to that a discount of five percent for purchases at Quick-Shop stores, and a ten percent discount for Quick-Wash carwash services will be provided to every cardholder. As a welcome bonus, clients will receive 300 or 600 rubles (depending on the type of card) after the first transaction with the Credit Card.

Panu Kopra, CEO, Neste operations in North-West Russia, said: "From the first days of our company, our mission has been to meet the actual and potential demands of our customers and raise the quality of our services. That is why one of our key principles is to be a step ahead of everyone. We were the first to implement in 1996 a system of magnetic cards as a method of payment at Neste filling stations. Therefore, it is quite logical that we are the first to offer our customers the special Credit Card in partnership with Citibank and MasterCard hoping that they will appreciate the advantages it has."

Joel Kornreich, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Consumer Business at Citi Russia and CIS, noted: "Under today's complex and quickly changing market conditions people are paying special attention to long-term financial planning and saving on daily expenditures. In response to the needs of our clients, we are offering a financial instrument that will be not only a safe and convenient means of payment but one that will also allow clients to accumulate bonus rubles and save when paying for goods and services at Neste gas stations."

Ilya Ryabyi, Chief Representative of MasterCard Europe in Russia, commented: "This product is unique for several reasons: It is the first co-branded card in Russia developed on the base of our new premium product World MasterCard, which we created especially for those who enjoy travelling. This is also Russia's first truly large-scale joint program involving gas stations. I believe that both of these factors will be highly appreciated by car owners in the North-western region of the country, an area with traditionally strong ties to Scandinavian countries where Neste network is so well represented."

Neste-Citibank-MasterCard holders have access to unique services and special offers from the program partners, the leading car service and dealer companies in St. Petersburg and other companies which provide a selection of services for motorists. Discounts and special offers from the program partners cover car services and accessories.