Shell Credit Card Review 2026: New Card & Legacy Status

Shell Credit Card: Complete 2026 Guide (What's Live Now)

ClearValue Lending·August 17, 2026·6 min read

TL;DR

Shell retired its two legacy Citi-issued cards — the Shell Fuel Rewards Card and Shell Fuel Rewards Mastercard, both of which paused new applications in early 2026 during a transition — and launched a successor: the Shell Performance Elite World Mastercard, issued by First Bank & Trust and managed by Imprint, which began accepting applications May 18, 2026. The new card earns 4% back at Shell, 3% on dining and groceries, and 2% on everything else, with no annual fee. The legacy Citi cards carried a variable APR in the 31%+ range and no annual fee. If you're shopping for a Shell card today, the Performance Elite World Mastercard is the current live product — confirm status directly at shell.com since card-program transitions can shift eligibility and terms.

Shell's credit card program went through a real transition in 2026, and it's worth understanding before you search for "Shell credit card" and land on outdated information. The two legacy cards — the Shell Fuel Rewards Card and Shell Fuel Rewards Mastercard, both issued by Citibank — paused new applications in early 2026 while Shell moved to a new card partner.

The new card: Shell Performance Elite World Mastercard

Shell's successor product, the Shell Performance Elite World Mastercard, is issued by First Bank & Trust and managed by fintech partner Imprint. It began accepting applications May 18, 2026, and carries a different rewards design than the legacy fuel-focused cards: 4% back at Shell, 3% on dining and groceries, and 2% on everything else, with no annual fee.

Why this matters for your search

A lot of published "Shell credit card" content online still describes the retired Citi cards' fuel-focused terms and APR (which ran north of 31% variable). If you're applying today, you're most likely applying for the new Performance Elite World Mastercard — a genuinely different product with a different issuer, application process, and rewards structure. Always confirm current status and terms at shell.com before applying, since a newly launched card program's details can still be refined.

If you have a legacy Shell card

Existing legacy Citi cardholders should check their account directly (or shell.com) for guidance on their specific account during the transition — this content does not have visibility into individual account migration decisions Citi and Shell may make.

Our methodology

Every figure above — for both the legacy Citi cards and the new Performance Elite World Mastercard — is attributed to publicly reported issuer terms and news of the 2026 transition, verified 2026. ClearValue Lending is not a card issuer; we score and compare publicly available terms. Confirm current product availability and terms directly at shell.com before applying. See our full review methodology for how we score cards.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still apply for the old Shell Fuel Rewards Card?+

As of early 2026, Shell paused new applications for its two legacy Citi-issued cards (the Shell Fuel Rewards Card and Shell Fuel Rewards Mastercard) during its transition to a new card program. Check shell.com for the current application status, since these transitions can change.

What is the Shell Performance Elite World Mastercard?+

It's Shell's new co-branded card, issued by First Bank & Trust and managed by fintech partner Imprint, which began accepting applications May 18, 2026. It earns 4% back at Shell, 3% on dining and groceries, and 2% on all other purchases, with no annual fee.

Is the new Shell card better than the old one?+

The new Shell Performance Elite World Mastercard's published rewards structure (4%/3%/2%) is a straightforward cash-back tier system, a different design than the legacy Citi cards' fuel-focused rewards. Compare the specific rate you'd earn on your actual spending mix, and confirm current terms directly with the issuer since this is a newly launched product.

Is ClearValue Lending a bank or card issuer?+

No. ClearValue Lending is not a bank, card issuer, lender, or financial advisor. This review presents publicly available editorial information about Shell's credit card programs, legacy and current. The legacy cards were issued by Citibank; the current Shell Performance Elite World Mastercard is issued by First Bank & Trust and managed by Imprint. Rates, fees, and terms are determined solely by the issuer and may change — verify current terms directly with the issuer before applying.