First Fuel Bank

Fuel prices have been on the rise for several years now. Denis Feneis had a vision of a "fuel" bank but was unable to implement his plan until 1982 when technology was made possible. His vision was to build a service station where consumers could pre-pay for fuel and lock the price in at a lower rate in case gas prices began to rise again.

The First Fuel Bank came into existence in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Denis, along with his sons Jim and Dan, inaugurated the First Fuel Bank with this new ground-breaking technology. Since its inception there have been a total of six locations added in the St. Cloud and Monticello areas of Minnesota.

First Fuel Bank assures its customers protection if a fuel shortage was to occur. They have an innovative system in place to keep up with how many gallons of pre-paid gas that each customer has and will hold an allocation for those customers.

Prepaid First Fuel Bank Cards do not charge service fees and the lifetime membership is only $1. If you lose your card or need extras, those will cost $2.50 each. Prepaid First Fuel Bank Cards have no set minimum or maximum purchase or time limit that you have to use your gas. They may however limit purchases in a crisis situation.

They offer security by requiring your fuel card and PIN number to withdrawal fuel. They have special fleet accounts in place for large businesses and provide documentation for account activity.

You can be assured of your supply protection and check your balance if you feel there is a discrepancy.

Many customers of First Fuel Bank are still paying around $1 per gallon because they purchased hundreds of gallons of gas when the prices were low and locked in at that rate. It may be a risk with the high gas prices we are seeing today, but if the price continues to rise it would be a good investment to stock up at this rate now.

This company has no immediate plans of expanding the chain in the near future, but many consumers believe this idea will catch on and other companies will follow its lead.

Since this concept has not yet spread across the country it's always a good idea to get the most out of the gas you are purchasing now.

Some experts suggest using Non-Brand name gas stations. Many times they carry the same fuel as the Name Brand stores but sell it at a cheaper price.

Make sure you are using the right grade of fuel for your vehicle. Check your owners manual to be sure.

Topping off your tank does not always give you extra fuel. More times than not, that fuel remains in the hose or evaporates.
Drive frugally and avoid rapid stop and go driving.

For some drivers this is the steps we must take to insure we are getting the most for our fuel dollars until a First Fuel Bank pops up in our area.