Shell Stations Improve Visa Prepaid Cardholder Experience at the Pump

Implementation of Visa Partial Authorization at Service Stations Gives Customers Greater Convenience, Security and Choice in Payments

SAN FRANCISCO - August 23, 2007

Visa USA today announced that Shell stations are adopting Visa partial authorization, which allows drivers to more easily purchase gas at the pump using a Visa prepaid card. Shell is in the process of expanding this service at stations across the U.S.

Visa was first to develop this innovative solution, which can prevent declined transactions when the balance on a Visa prepaid card is less than the typical cost of a full tank of gas. The adoption of this solution by thousands of Shell stations nationwide will help to make Visa prepaid cards even easier for consumers to use at the pump.

The adoption of this technology at Shell will help improve customer convenience, a key factor in the Gasoline Retailing business. Visa partial authorization gives customers more choice in how they pay for gasoline at the pump.

According to Visa research, partial authorization can help average approval rates increase by up to 25 percent at automated fuel dispenser (AFD) merchants who use Visa's solution. With this solution in place, gas stations can help ensure Visa prepaid cardholders have a positive and more convenient payment experience at the pump, instead of having to pay inside. It also helps AFD merchants avoid the potential loss of valuable sales.

"Visa is focused on building the prepaid category infrastructure to help ensure convenient acceptance and to give consumers greater flexibility to use Visa prepaid cards in more places," said Todd Brockman, senior vice president, prepaid products, Visa USA. "With a major oil brand like Shell using Visa partial authorization, consumers can now more easily pay for gas at the pump with a Visa prepaid card. Expanding this functionality also allows financial institutions and merchants to better serve their customers."

How Partial Authorization at the Pump Works
A consumer can use a wide range of Visa prepaid cards - including, but not limited to, Visa Gift and Incentive cards, Visa TravelMoney, Visa Buxx, Visa Payroll, and Visa General Purpose cards - to pay for gas at participating stations.

The cardholder inserts the Visa prepaid card at the automatic fuel dispenser to begin pumping gas. The Visa authorization service checks with the card issuer for funds available for the gas purchase.
If the card only has enough funds to pay for a portion of a total gas purchase, the transaction will no longer be declined, prompting the cardholder to "see attendant." Instead, the pump can now be instructed to shut off when the funds on the Visa prepaid card reach zero.

Visa prepaid cards can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, and are protected from fraudulent or unauthorized transactions by Visa's Zero Liability policy in the event the card is lost or stolen.¹

About Visa USA
Visa USA is a leading payments brand and the nation's largest payments system, enabling banks to provide their consumer and business customers with a wide variety of payment alternatives tailored to meet their evolving needs. Visa USA is committed to increasing the choice, convenience, acceptance and security of Visa payments for all stakeholders - financial institutions, cardholders and merchants. As of March 31, 2007, in the United States, more than 521 million Visa-branded cards have been issued by more than 13,000 financial institution customers. Visa products generated $1.8 trillion in total volume in the United States during the four quarters ended March 31, 2007. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the globe. For more information, visit www.visa.com

About Shell
Shell Oil Products US, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, is a leader in the refining, transportation and marketing of fuels, and has a network of approximately 6,000 branded gasoline stations in the Western United States. Shell Oil Company is a 50 percent owner of Motiva Enterprises LLC, along with Saudi Refining, Inc. Motiva Enterprises LLC refines and markets branded products through approximately 7,700 Shell-branded stations in the Eastern and Southern United States. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Shell Group (NYSE:RDS.A) and (NYSE:RDS.B). For more information, please visit www.shell.com.

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¹U.S. issued cards only. Visa's Zero Liability policy does not apply to commercial credit card or ATM transactions, or PIN transactions not processed by Visa. Issuers should encourage cardholders to notify their financial institution immediately of any fraudulent use. Any specific restrictions, limitations, and other details should be set forth clearly in the cardholder agreement.

Media Contact: Jennifer Doidge, Visa USA, Tel: 1 415 932-2350 at jdoidge@visa.com, Alexa Waltz, Fleishman-Hillard, Tel: 1 415 318-4110 at waltza@fleishman.com

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