Good news for Standard Bank clients filling up with petrol and diesel in South Africa

Standard Bank is rolling out a temporary boost to fuel rewards under its UCount rewards programme to help South Africans manage the impact of the sharp rise in petrol and diesel prices. 

Qualifying members, depending on their UCount tier level, have the opportunity to earn up to R15 back in Rewards Points per litre when filling up at Astron Energy and Caltex service stations. 

The bank said a client filling a 50-litre tank could earn up to R750 in Rewards Points, depending on their UCount Rewards tier level and qualifying criteria.

The limited-time offer provides practical relief to consumers facing ongoing cost pressures, particularly around essential expenses such as transport, as high fuel prices continue to strain household budgets.

From 16 May to 15 July 2026, qualifying UCount Rewards members will benefit from an enhanced fuel earn structure. 

This will enable them to earn higher rewards on both petrol and diesel purchases when using a qualifying Standard Bank Credit Card at participating Astron Energy and Caltex service stations.

The offer is available automatically to qualifying UCount Rewards members across all tier levels when paying with an eligible Standard Bank Credit Card at participating Astron Energy and Caltex service stations. 

Standard Bank’s relief follows that of FNB, which announced a limited-time ‘Fuel Boost’ as part of its eBucks programme. 

This boost will give customers a guaranteed 50% increase in eBucks earned on fuel at Engen, on top of their standard monthly fuel rewards.

The relief offered by South Africa’s biggest banks comes amid elevated petrol and diesel prices, which have skyrocketed as a result of conflict in the Middle East. 

This has been driven by the rise in international oil prices amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and a blockade on oil exports from Iranian ports by the United States. 

The effective closure of the strait has cut global oil supply by around 20% and severely impacted the price of refined petroleum products. 

This has been coupled with a weakening of the rand as investors flock towards safe-haven assets and away from emerging markets.

As a result, diesel prices have been pushed above R30 per litre for the first time in South African history after rising by 79% in just three months. 

This rise in absolute terms is just below R14 per litre, with diesel 0.005% sulphur rising from R17.58 per litre at the end of January to R31.88 per litre from 6 May.

The price of a litre of 95 octane petrol at an inland fuel station has risen to R26.63 as of 6 May from R19.92 at the beginning of the year.