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What is Synchrony Bank, and Why Should You Care?

CREDIT CARDS - CREDIT CARD BASICS
You may have never heard of Synchrony Bank, but there’s a chance you’re already a customer.
Matt Miczulski
By Matt Miczulski
Becca Borawski Jenkins
Edited by Becca Borawski Jenkins
Updated April 12, 2024
Fact checked
What Is Synchrony Bank and Why Should You Care

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Whether you’re buying clothes, furniture, sporting equipment, or gas, if you’ve been offered a store credit card at some point, there’s a good chance it was a Synchrony Bank product.

Synchrony Bank may not be as well-known as other popular banks, but its impact on the consumer financial services industry hasn’t gone unnoticed. With a footprint that encompasses many popular retailers, health-care providers, manufacturers, and more, Synchrony Bank is the bank behind many of the retail credit cards we use each day.

So what exactly is Synchrony Bank, and what does it do? Let’s take a look.

In this article

What/who is Synchrony Bank?

Synchrony Bank is a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and based out of Utah. Synchrony has been a leader in consumer financial services for more than 85 years and provides a variety of financing options for many well-known brands across the country, including companies such as Amazon, Walmart, and eBay.

Synchrony offers three financing solutions — retail credit cards, CareCredit for healthcare-related financing, and promotional financing for major consumer purchase — and has more than 80 million active accounts. In addition to its financing options, Synchrony also offers a variety of FDIC-insured savings products, including a high-yield savings account.

There’s a possibility that you already have a Synchrony Bank card in your wallet. Why? Synchrony is the largest issuer of private label credit cards in the U.S., with over 120 credit cards and store-branded cards. If there’s a retail chain store you like to shop at, chances are it offers a credit card — and that credit card has a good chance of being a Synchrony Bank product.

Synchrony works with businesses across a broad range of markets and industries, such as:

  • Auto parts and services
  • Electronics and appliances
  • Flooring
  • Hardware
  • Health care and optical
  • Heating and air conditioning
  • Home furnishings
  • Home improvement
  • Jewelry
  • Lawn and garden
  • Music
  • Powersports
  • Sewing
  • Sporting goods

Synchrony offers both store cards and credit cards

Synchrony has partnered with over 100 different brands to provide credit cards and store cards to customers across the country.

Store cards, also referred to by Synchrony as “private label credit cards,” are intended for use only at specific stores. While Synchrony is the bank that’s extending the credit to the customer, the store name is what’s branded on the card.

Synchrony also provides a patented “Dual Card,” which is a credit card that functions as a store card when used in-store and as a general-purpose credit card when used anywhere else. Store cards can only be used at the merchants they’re connected with, but since these Dual Cards are issued on the Visa and Mastercard networks, customers can use the card anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted.

The requirements for getting approved for Synchrony store cards are generally more lenient than their Dual Cards, though store cards tend to have higher annual percentage rates (APRs) and lower credit limits. You may also find special financing options offered with many store cards, but these promotions will vary from store to store.

On the other hand, Synchrony Dual Cards generally require customers to have a better credit score than what’s required for store cards, but they also typically offer better terms and rewards. Depending on the card, you can usually earn between 1X and 5X points on purchases, which is on par with other rewards credit cards. Many Synchrony Dual Cards also offer other benefits, such as no annual fees and a sign-up bonus for new cardmembers.

The best cards offered by Synchrony Bank

Amazon Prime Store Card

If you’re an eligible Amazon Prime member, the Amazon Prime Store Card offers 5% back on purchases at Amazon.com, as well as a variety of special financing offers and no annual fee. You can choose between paying for your purchase with 6, 12, or 24 equal monthly payments at 0% APR. Or you can opt for special financing, where you’ll pay no interest if the purchase paid off within 6, 12, or 24 months. How many equal payments and how long the promotional period is depends on the price of your purchase.

Keep in mind that Amazon’s special financing offer defers the interest during the promotional period, so if there’s a remaining balance when the offer ends, the full interest backdated to the date of purchase will be added to your account. This is important to remember as the APR is on the high side — also a good reason to pay your balances in full every month.

If you’re a frequent online shopper who specifically enjoys shopping on Amazon and pays your balance in full each month, you shouldn’t have any issue finding value in this card. If you don’t have a Prime membership, you won’t earn the 5% back at Amazon.com, just the promotional financing offers.

Sam’s Club Mastercard

In order to apply for the Sam’s Club Mastercard, you must be a Sam’s Club member; annual memberships currently cost $45 for Select Club and $100 for Select Plus. New cardmembers can get a $45 statement credit when a new account is opened, but you have to spend $45 online the same day you open the account to get it.

Sam’s Club Mastercard cardholders can earn 5% cash back on the first $6,000 spent on gas purchases, then 1% after that. They’ll also earn 3% cash back on dining and travel. For every other purchase you make, you’ll earn 1%. The maximum cash back you can earn on all purchases each year is $5,000. This card also has zero foreign transaction fees and no annual fee.

While the Sam’s Club Mastercard offers a competitive 5% cash back on eligible gas purchases, spending in this category is capped at $6,000 per year. So, depending on how much you spend annually on gas, other cards may provide more value.

Lowe’s Advantage Card

If you frequently shop at Lowe’s, the Lowe’s credit card might actually give you an advantage. You can get 5% off your eligible purchase or order when it’s charged to your Lowe’s account and six months special financing on purchases of $299 or more. If you’ve got a big project coming up where you’ll be spending $2,000 or more, you can enjoy up to 84 months of fixed monthly payments with reduced APR financing until the balance is paid in full.

While some other credit cards may offer 5% cash back at stores like Lowe’s, the rewards are usually on a rotating category basis. With the Lowe’s Advantage Card, however, you earn 5% off every day of the year.

Synchrony also offers multi-store category cards

Aside from the many retail-specific cards Synchrony provides, it also offers category-specific credit cards, which broaden the locations where your card is accepted.

Health care

CareCredit is a Synchrony credit card that’s accepted at more than 210,000 locations nationwide. With it, you can finance health, beauty, and wellness needs that aren’t covered by insurance. With the CareCredit healthcare credit card, you’ll get a revolving line of credit that can be used for things like dentistry, cosmetic treatments, LASIK surgery, eyeglasses, and even pet care.

The card offers reduced APR special financing options for purchases of $200 or more, but the standard APR is pretty high.

Car care

The Synchrony Car Care credit card is designed for pretty much every car expense you can think of. It can be used for routine maintenance like gas and car washes, as well as larger purchases such as tires, brakes, transmissions, and more.

There’s no annual fee for the Car Care credit card, and interest-free special financing offers are available for purchases of $199 or more. And, yes, you guessed it: The purchase APR is high, so you’ll want to never carry a balance.

Sporting goods

Golf Galaxy and Field & Stream are both owned by Dick’s Sporting Goods, so opening a ScoreRewards store card or Dual Card allows you to earn points at any of these three stores. Cardmembers can earn 2X points on qualified in-store purchases, and ScoreRewards Mastercard cardholders can also earn one point for every three dollars spent anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Home goods

The Synchrony HOME Credit Card allows cardholders to shop at thousands of locations nationwide for qualifying home-related purchases, including things like furniture, decor, appliances, flooring, and mattresses.

Depending on how much you spend, this card offers 2% cash back on purchases under $299 and six months of promotional financing on purchases of $299 or more. While there’s no annual fee for the Synchrony HOME Credit Card, the APR on purchases is high.

The complete list of cards offered by Synchrony Bank

Synchrony Bank credit cards

Synchrony Bank store cards

Getting approved for a card from Synchrony Bank

With any credit card, the higher your credit score, the better your chances for approval — and Synchrony Bank cards are no different. But generally speaking, the minimum credit score for Synchrony’s store cards is going to be lower than what’s needed for its Dual Cards.

That being said, the credit score required will vary from store to store, so it’s best to always try to maintain as best a credit score as possible.

Alternatives to Synchrony cards

Synchrony Bank credit cards probably aren’t going to provide you with the best terms and rewards when compared to other credit cards, but they can come in handy. In fact, since they generally have lower credit score requirements, a store card might be a good option as a first credit card if you’re looking to build your credit history. With such high APRs, though, you’ll want to always make sure to pay your balances in full each month.

The promotional financing options offered by many of the Synchrony credit cards can also be useful, allowing you to pay off the charge over time without racking up any interest. But again, be careful — because if you don’t pay off the balance within the promotional period, the deferred interest will kick in, and this could cost you a lot.

If you're interested in a credit card that offers more flexible rewards and a promotional APR, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and Citi Double Cash® Card may be worth considering. 

With the American Express Blue Cash Everyday®, you earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%); and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. Cash back is in the form of Reward Dollars, which you can redeem as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. 

Cardholders also get a 0% intro APR on new purchases for 15 months, then 19.24% - 29.99% Variable and 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months, then 19.24% - 29.99% Variable.

For more details, read our American Express Blue Cash Everyday® review.

The Citi Double Cash offers 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24, so you don't need to worry about spending in certain categories to earn bonus cash back. This card is also a good option if you're looking to transfer your credit card debt from a card with a high interest rate. It offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)). 

For more details, read our Citi Double Cash card review.

FAQs about Synchrony Bank

Is Synchrony a legit bank?

Yes, Synchrony Bank is a legitimate financial services company that's a subsidiary of Synchrony Financial, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. It was originally part of GE Capital Retail Bank, a long-standing financial institution established in 1932. 

Today, Synchrony Bank is best known for its consumer credit card products. It offers over 120 store cards and credit cards, and according to its website, it services more than 75.5 million active customer accounts. In addition to its credit cards, Synchrony also offers savings products, including a high-yield savings account, money market account, CD, and IRA CD.

Does Synchrony Bank have a physical location?

While Synchrony Bank does have corporate offices in the United States, it is an online bank and does not offer physical banking branches for consumers. Consumers can search for retailers that offer Synchrony store cards and review their options for credit cards on the company website.

Synchrony Bank account holders can view their statements and pay their credit card bills online or via the mail. Some accounts, such as Synchrony's high-yield savings account, offer ATM access through the Accel network, which has ATM locations in all 50 states.

How do you contact Synchrony Bank?

You can reach Synchrony customer service by calling the phone number on your billing statement or the back of your credit card. The company also offers a chat feature on their website and a useful FAQs section if you need a quick answer to a common question.


Some final words on Synchrony Bank

One final thing to be aware of is that Synchrony has had some issues with marketing and service in the past. In 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Synchrony Bank to provide nearly $225 million in relief to consumers affected by “illegal and discriminatory credit card practices.” Aside from employing deceptive marketing practices, the bank was also found to have excluded approximately 108,000 borrowers from debt relief offers because of their national origin.

As with any credit card — whether it’s your first card or not — use it responsibly and pay the card off each month. This way, you can get the most benefit from the rewards or discounts it offers without having to pay a fortune in interest charges.

Earn Easy Cash Back at Amazon.com

Prime Visa
4.9

Prime Visa

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Current Offer

$100 Amazon gift card upon approval

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

5% cash back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases; 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, and on local transit and commuting; 1% cash back on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
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