SAN RAMON, Calif. & SAN FRANCISCO — Chevron USA Inc. and Visa Inc. will launch a mobile payments program at more than 20 Chevron-branded gas stations, accepting any near-field communications (NFC) payment service. The program, set to debut later this fall at select Chevron stations in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, will offer consumers a simple and more secure way to pay at the pump with a range of mobile payment services.

Already, an estimated 80% of Chevron customers in the United States pay for gas at the pump using a credit card or debit card, the company said.

“Mobile payments are moving into the mainstream in the U.S. because, more and more, consumers see the value of using their personal devices to purchase everyday items like groceries and gas,” said Jim McCarthy, executive vice president of innovation and strategic partnerships at Visa Inc., San Francisco. “Chevron has always focused on giving their customers great experiences by offering convenient ways to pay and being committed to protecting against fraud. For this reason, they are who we want to help us broaden both the reach, and consumer understanding of the many mobile payment options in the market today.”

“We are continually looking for ways to improve the customer experience at our stations and further expand our offering of mobile payment solutions at the pump,” said Glenn Johnson, general manager of Americas Products marketing sales and services at Chevron. “This new program with Visa further solidifies our commitment to delivering high-quality products and services in a more secure and convenient environment.”

As the payments industry increasingly shifts from plastic to digital, new technology advances from Visa and its partners are helping merchants like Chevron and its retailers offer their customers a simple and more secure purchasing experience, regardless of where they are and what device they are using. With security at the core of the mobile purchasing experience, Chevron customers can feel confident that each transaction is authorized through the Visa Token Service, which uses a unique digital identifier to process consumer payments without exposing actual account details.

“With my travel and training schedule, I rely on my mobile phone to do so much more than keep in touch with friends, family and fans,” said Carli Lloyd, soccer champion, who appears in a commercial for the companies. “Even better, is when I can use my phone to do something faster, like paying for something with just a tap.”

Chevron, based in San Ramon, Calif., is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. It explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and lubricants.