Company Description
Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) is a consumer financial services company in the finance and insurance sector, classified under all other nondepository credit intermediation. According to company disclosures, Synchrony focuses on consumer financing, credit and banking products that support purchases across areas such as health, home, auto, retail, travel, digital and pet-related spending. Its offerings are designed for both individuals and businesses, including small and midsize enterprises and health and wellness providers.
The company states that its products have been serving people and businesses for nearly 100 years. Synchrony describes itself as being "at the heart of American commerce and opportunity," emphasizing responsible access to credit and banking products that support healthier financial lives for tens of millions of people. It also notes that it supports the growth and operations of some of the country's respected brands, as well as more than 400,000 small and midsize businesses and health and wellness providers.
Synchrony trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SYF. In SEC filings, the company identifies its securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including its common stock and depositary shares representing interests in preferred stock series. These filings also indicate that Synchrony is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
Business focus and financing programs
Based on its public descriptions, Synchrony provides a range of consumer financing programs and banking products. The company highlights private label and co-branded credit cards, installment loans and other consumer financing products in its portfolio. It partners with businesses to drive sales, foster customer loyalty and offer flexible financing solutions at the point of sale and across various channels.
Synchrony’s activities span industries including retail and digital commerce, home and auto-related spending, travel, health and wellness, and pet care. The company emphasizes that its products are used by individuals and by small- to medium-sized businesses, including healthcare providers. Through these partnerships, Synchrony positions its financing programs as tools that help businesses manage customer payments and support growth.
CareCredit and health and wellness financing
A notable part of Synchrony’s business is CareCredit, which the company describes as a health and wellness credit card that offers financing options for qualified cardholders. CareCredit is used for elective healthcare procedures, aesthetic procedures, veterinary services and other health and wellness needs. Synchrony reports that CareCredit provides convenient financing options that allow cardholders to pay over time for the care they want.
Recent company news highlights the expansion of CareCredit’s reach through technology integrations and partnerships. Synchrony announced that CareCredit is integrated with Clover, the all-in-one commerce solution from Fiserv. Through the "Pay with CareCredit" app on Clover devices, health and wellness providers can accept CareCredit payments and facilitate new applications at the point of sale. Synchrony states that this integration allows providers to manage the full patient financing journey — from application to payment — within the Clover system.
Synchrony also reports that CareCredit remains the exclusive financing solution for members of the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa). Through this relationship, AmSpa members who offer CareCredit gain access to tiered merchant rates and preferred transaction terms for qualifying transactions. According to Synchrony, this arrangement is intended to support the growth of medical spa practices by providing financing options for patients seeking aesthetic procedures.
Partnerships across home, auto and pet segments
Synchrony’s public communications describe multiple partnerships that extend its financing capabilities into home, auto and pet-related markets. In the home and auto segment, the company notes a renewed residential consumer financing relationship with Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC (METUS). This multi-year agreement supports contractors nationwide by offering customizable, promotional financing options for heating and cooling systems and services, along with digital application tools that streamline the credit process.
In the outdoor equipment space, Synchrony has launched The Toro Company credit card program in partnership with The Toro Company. This program is issued by Synchrony and is designed to provide dealers of Toro, Exmark, Spartan and Z Turf Equipment with consumer financing tools. The company highlights features such as digital applications, dealer support tools, special financing options and repeat spending capabilities intended to strengthen customer relationships and support dealer sales.
Within pet care, Synchrony has announced a partnership with Pumpkin Pet Insurance that links CareCredit with pet insurance reimbursements. Pet owners who hold both a CareCredit credit card and a Pumpkin Pet Insurance policy can pay for veterinary services at locations in the CareCredit network and elect to receive eligible insurance reimbursements directly to their CareCredit account. Synchrony describes this as a way to simplify the reimbursement process and help pet owners manage out-of-pocket veterinary costs.
Capital markets activity and regulatory reporting
Synchrony regularly files reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Recent Form 8-K filings show that the company furnishes monthly charge-off and delinquency statistics as of and for each of the thirteen months ended certain dates. These statistics are provided under Regulation FD disclosure items and are described as being furnished rather than filed for purposes of certain Exchange Act liabilities.
In another Form 8-K, Synchrony reports entering into an underwriting agreement to issue and sell fixed-to-floating rate senior notes due 2029 and 2036 in a public offering under an effective registration statement. The filing references the base indenture and supplemental indentures governing these notes, as well as related legal opinions. This illustrates the company’s use of the capital markets to issue senior debt securities.
The company also uses Form 8-K to report quarterly earnings releases and to furnish financial data supplements, financial results presentations and explanations of non-GAAP measures. Additionally, Synchrony discloses outcomes of its annual meeting of stockholders, including the election of directors, ratification of its independent registered public accounting firm and advisory votes on executive compensation.
Corporate governance and listing information
Synchrony’s SEC filings identify its common stock and depositary shares representing interests in preferred stock series as listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company’s governance disclosures include information about board elections, committee assignments and compensation arrangements for directors. For example, a recent Form 8-K reports the election of a new director and her appointment to the Risk and Technology Committees of the board, along with a description of her compensation and indemnification arrangements.
The company also reports on board-authorized capital actions. In a recent announcement, Synchrony stated that its board of directors approved an increase in the company’s share repurchase authorization, specifying the total amount available for repurchases through a stated date. Another press release notes that the board declared quarterly cash dividends on common stock and on two series of preferred stock, with payment dates and record dates disclosed.
Recognition and workplace culture
In multiple public communications, Synchrony notes that it has been ranked as the country’s #2 Best Company to Work For by Fortune magazine and Great Place to Work. The company highlights this recognition in the context of its role in providing responsible access to credit and supporting both consumers and business partners.
Historical context and segment structure
Polygon data describes Synchrony Financial as originally a spinoff of GE Capital’s retail financing business and characterizes it as the largest provider of private-label credit cards in the United States by outstanding receivables and purchasing volume. That description also notes that Synchrony partners with other firms to market its credit products in physical stores, on websites and in mobile applications, and that it operates through segments such as retail card, payment solutions and CareCredit. While this information may predate more recent company communications, it provides historical context for Synchrony’s role in private-label and co-branded credit card programs and promotional financing.
How Synchrony positions its role in consumer finance
Across its news releases and company descriptions, Synchrony emphasizes responsible access to credit, digital capabilities, industry expertise, data insights and customer experiences. It presents its financing programs as tools that enable people to access the things that matter to them, while also supporting the growth and operations of brands, small and midsize businesses and health and wellness providers. The company’s recurring themes include health and wellness financing through CareCredit, home and auto financing partnerships, retail and lifestyle credit programs and pet-related financial solutions.
FAQs about Synchrony Financial (SYF)
- What does Synchrony Financial do?
Synchrony Financial is a consumer financial services and consumer financing company. It provides financing programs and banking products, including private label and co-branded credit cards, installment loans and other consumer financing products that support purchases across sectors such as retail, digital, home, auto, travel, health and pet care.
- How does Synchrony describe its role in consumer finance?
The company describes itself as being at the heart of American commerce and opportunity. It states that it provides responsible access to credit and banking products to support healthier financial lives for tens of millions of people and to help them access the things that matter to them.
- Which industries and partners does Synchrony work with?
Synchrony reports that it works across industries including retail, digital, home, auto, travel, health and pet. It supports some of the country’s respected brands and more than 400,000 small and midsize businesses and health and wellness providers through its financing programs and experiences.
- What is CareCredit and how is it related to Synchrony?
CareCredit is a health and wellness credit card offered by Synchrony. It provides financing options for qualified cardholders seeking elective healthcare procedures, aesthetic treatments, veterinary services and other health and wellness care, allowing them to pay over time for the care they want.
- How is Synchrony involved in health and wellness payments?
Synchrony integrates CareCredit into platforms used by health and wellness providers, such as Clover devices from Fiserv. Through the Pay with CareCredit app, providers can accept CareCredit payments and process new applications at the point of sale, managing the full financing journey within the Clover system.
- What role does Synchrony play in home and HVAC financing?
Synchrony has a residential consumer financing relationship with Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC (METUS). Under this multi-year agreement, Synchrony offers customizable, promotional financing options and digital application tools that support contractors and homeowners seeking financing for heating and cooling systems and services.
- How does Synchrony support equipment and dealer sales?
Through its partnership with The Toro Company, Synchrony issues The Toro Company credit card program. This program provides dealers of Toro, Exmark, Spartan and Z Turf Equipment products with consumer financing options, digital application tools and dealer support resources aimed at strengthening customer relationships and supporting sales.
- What is Synchrony’s involvement in pet care financing?
Synchrony partners with Pumpkin Pet Insurance to connect CareCredit with pet insurance reimbursements. Pet owners who use CareCredit at veterinary providers in the CareCredit network and hold Pumpkin Pet Insurance policies can elect to receive eligible claim reimbursements directly to their CareCredit account, simplifying the reimbursement process.
- On which exchange does SYF trade and what securities does Synchrony list?
Synchrony’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SYF. SEC filings also identify depositary shares representing interests in certain series of preferred stock as listed securities.
- How does Synchrony communicate its financial performance and credit metrics?
Synchrony uses SEC filings, including Form 8-K, to furnish monthly charge-off and delinquency statistics and to report quarterly earnings releases. It also provides financial data supplements, financial results presentations and explanations of non-GAAP measures as exhibits to these filings.
- Has Synchrony received any workplace recognition?
In its public communications, Synchrony states that it has been ranked as the country’s #2 Best Company to Work For by Fortune magazine and Great Place to Work, and it highlights this recognition alongside its focus on responsible access to credit and support for business partners.