As a result of the substantially lower interchange fees it will realize by shifting payments away from bank-issued credit and debit cards, Murphy USA will reward consumers using the card with a one cent per gallon discount at the pump.

High card-acceptance fees on MasterCard and Visa credit and debit cards have dramatically impacted profit margins in the U.S. gasoline and convenience store markets. Gas retailers on average pay about two percent of the cost of each card-based transaction, which has dramatically impacted margins as the cost of gas has increased. Credit and debit interchange fees were expected to be more than $40 billion in 2006, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), the world's largest retail trade association, up from $30.7 billion in 2005.

"Tempo's nationwide payment network enables us to reduce certain transaction costs and share the savings with our customers when transactions are processed through Tempo," said Bryan Botkin, Manager, Special Services, with Murphy USA.

Murphy USA Marketing Co. is the retail sales division of Murphy Oil USA, Inc. and operates high-volume, low-cost retail gasoline stations under the Murphy USA brand across 21 states in the U.S. Murphy USA debit card holders will also be able to use the card for purchases at more than 200,000 merchant locations in the U.S. that participate in the Tempo Payment Network.

"Few consumers realize that MasterCard and Visa card issuers tack on hidden charges that merchants are forced to pass on to their customers," said Mike Grossman, Tempo CEO. "Murphy and many other merchants are concerned that card-based payment fees outpace free market economics by continuing to escalate, even though increased volumes should lower the per-use transaction cost."

The Tempo Payment Network drives down the cost of accepting card payments and fosters consumer loyalty. Tempo card-issuing retailers have initiated a number of programs to share those benefits with their customers, ranging from rewards points, to gas discounts, to cash rebates. Tempo provides all card-accepting merchants with a low fee per transaction alternative to bank-issued cards.