Wawa launches its own credit card

Wawa this week launched its own credit card with the promise of sizable discounts on gasoline for the first two months a user has the card.

The new card, released in conjunction with Citigroup, can be used inside any of Wawa's 700 convenience stores for coffee, cigarettes, hoagies and other merchandise. But the main draw will be at the pump.

Through the end of the year, the chain is offering a 25-cent-per-gallon discount on each customer's purchase of the first 100 gallons of fuel. After the promotion, the card will carry a discount of 5 cents per gallon.

The card carries a hefty 24.99% interest rate. Applications can be picked up at Wawa stores or found on WawaCreditCard.com.

"It's customer loyalty we're after and making sure the fuel brand is front and center," said Brian Schaller, Wawa's vice president for fuel. "We may come out with additional promotions with additional discounts and sales at our stores."

The market for gasoline has grown increasingly competitive, Schaller said.

"Ten years ago there weren't the same people selling fuel," he said. "Now you have grocery stores, warehouse clubs and others.... We want to make sure we hold on the customers we've always had."

Wawa was named "America's Most Beloved Convenience Store" in July by the business intellegence firm Market Force.  Its has stores located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida. About 450 of those stores sell gasoline, according to the company's website.