The 28,000 South Africans benefiting from high petrol prices

Over 28,000 FNB clients refuelled at Engen and swiped their Clicks rewards cards to earn nearly R35 million in eBucks in only two months.

In the months since the launch of the Trio rewards ecosystem, motorists benefited from purchasing 1.87 million litres of fuel, despite petrol and diesel prices reaching record highs.

Tilene Narainan, Head of eBucks Growth and Partnerships at FNB, explained that customers already earned 34.6 million eBucks, on top of the 300,000 tanks of fuel benefits in the everyday programme over the past year.

“It is encouraging that customers are not only meeting the qualifying criteria but significantly exceeding them,” she said.

“This tells us that when rewards are relevant, accessible and built around everyday behaviour, customers respond.”

FNB customers also increased their 100% share of fuel spend at Engen by 2.59 percentage points in the first month, which Enoch Hermanus, Retail General Manager at Engen, noted.

“The uptake and performance insights demonstrate the value customers see in the Trio partnership,” he said.

“The increase in customers choosing Engen for a greater share of their fuel spend highlights the strength of combining convenience, quality service and meaningful rewards.”

Hermanus added that as consumers continue to navigate financial pressures, partnerships between brands play an important role in helping customers unlock greater value from their everyday spending.

Average customer spending at Clicks exceeded qualifying thresholds by between 116% and 140% across all segments.

Fionna Ronnie, Clicks Group Retail CMO, noted that the strong performance, particularly among FNB Private Wealth customers, shows the appeal of earning additional rewards extends across income groups.

“Consumers are increasingly seeking ways to maximise the value of every rand spent,” she said.

“Our partnership with FNB and Engen demonstrates how bringing together complementary brands can give customers more choice, more ways to earn rewards and greater value from their everyday spending.” 

According to the Trio, this strong performance points toward a broader shift in customer behaviour, with customers increasingly seeking connected ecosystems.

South Africans spend millions in eBucks on petrol

Earlier this year, FNB revealed that clients “unlocked” a combined R418 million in eBucks at Engen forecourts and spent R177 million of that on fuel.

Pieter Woodhatch, CEO of eBucks Rewards at FNB, said that when it comes to fuel, every rand and every litre counts.

“Fuel is a necessity for many South African households, and with prices expected to remain under pressure amid ongoing global geopolitical uncertainty, customers are looking for practical ways to protect their monthly budgets,” he said.

Woodhatch added that the eBucks rewards customers earn in a year are equivalent to filling around 424,000 tanks, which he said helps motorists go further even as fuel prices increase.

Over 54% of eBucks rewards members also refuel exclusively at Engen, while more than 850,000 members earn rewards from fuel purchases every month.

Ester Ochse, Integrated Advice, Product Head at FNB, added that fuel is one of the household expenses that feels price increases most sharply.

“Fuel is something most people can’t easily cut back on, which is why price increases are so noticeable in monthly budgets,” she noted.

“When global events push fuel prices higher, the impact tends to be felt for longer, not just for a month or two.”

Ochse explained that this is why it is increasingly important for consumers to find ways to reduce how much they spend on fuel every month.

“In times like these, small, consistent savings really add up. Using rewards, discounts or programmes that help lower everyday costs can ease pressure on household finances and free up money for other essentials,” she said.