Synchrony Bank doesn’t have the name recognition of some other banks, but it issues the store credit cards for many popular retailers.
And while these cards are often known for their discounts and rewards programs, as retail cards they can also be some of the easiest cards to be approved for on the market.
This list shows our top picks of the best Synchrony Bank credit cards. They may be worth a look, based on your shopping habits and needs.
| Card | Best for |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Store Card | Amazon purchases |
| Rakuten Cash Back Visa® Credit Card | Purchases through Rakuten |
| Lowe’s Advantage Card | Lowe’s purchases |
| Sam’s Club® Mastercard® | Sam’s Club purchases |
| Verizon Visa® Card | Verizon customers |
Amazon Prime Store Card
Here’s why: If you’re an eligible Amazon Prime member, the Amazon Prime Store Card offers 5% back in rewards on your Amazon.com purchases.
That 5% back — which you receive in the form of points equal to 5% of each purchase made — can be used for future purchases or statement credit.
The Amazon Prime Store Card can be used on most purchases at Amazon.com and with select “Pay With Amazon” merchants. But this is a closed-loop card, which means you can use it only at specific stores or groups of stores. The card also won’t allow you to pay for certain Amazon purchases, including rentals or digital add-on subscriptions like Starz.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that an Amazon Prime membership costs $119 per year, so this card might not be worth it for people who don’t already use the service.
Amazon offers a handful of credit cards, and not all of them are issued by Synchrony. See which is best for you in our Amazon credit cards roundup.
Rakuten Cash Back Visa® Credit Card
Here’s why: Rakuten allows you to earn cash back when shopping online without signing up for a credit card. But if you want to earn even more cash back on top of what the site offers, the Rakuten Cash Back Visa® Credit Card has you covered.
Cardholders get 3% cash back on qualifying online purchases made through Rakuten.com and through its qualifying in-store cash back offers. You’ll get the same rate on qualifying purchases with Rakuten dining and Rakuten travel, and you’ll also earn 1% cash back on all other qualifying purchases. As long as your cash back balance exceeds $5, you’ll receive a check with your cash back once each quarter.
You must be a Rakuten member and make purchases directly through Rakuten to qualify for the extra 3% cash back rate. While remembering to click through the Rakuten site before making a purchase can be a hassle for some consumers, it might be worth it to earn that 3% cash back rate. But the Rakuten portal doesn’t work for all online retailers, so keep in mind you won’t be able to earn 3% cash back on all online purchases.
Compare offers for cash back credit cards on Credit Karma for some other cash back options.
Lowe’s Advantage Card
Here’s why: If you own a home or love DIY projects, the Lowe’s Advantage credit card might be a good fit for you. With this card, you can choose from three different offers, which include cash back and special financing. The catch is that you can only pick one.
The first option is an ongoing 5% discount on eligible purchases made with the card — that’s not a bad discount just for using a credit card.
Another option is six months of no-interest financing for Lowe’s purchases of $299 or more. You’ll still have to make minimum monthly payments, but you won’t have to worry about interest for the financing term. But watch out: If you don’t pay off the purchase in full by the end of the promotional period, you’ll owe interest for the entire six months at the card’s standard purchase APR of 26.99%.
Your third option is 84 months of fixed monthly payments on a purchase of at least $2,000 with an APR of 7.99%. Once the promo period is over and the purchase is paid off, the APR jumps to 26.99%.
Sam’s Club® Mastercard®
Here’s why: The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® offers 5% cash back on your first $6,000 spent each year on certain gas purchases (then 1% back after that). You’ll also get 3% cash back on dining and travel purchases and 1% on all other purchases.
If you fill your tank regularly, the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® might be a great fit for your wallet. Plus, your rewards aren’t limited to Sam’s Club gas stations. But not every pump qualifies as a “gas station,” so be sure to read the fine print for details.
Rewards accumulate over a calendar year and are automatically loaded on your Sam’s Club membership every February, so don’t expect new rewards throughout the year.
And unfortunately, you must be a Sam’s Club member to hold a Sam’s Club® Mastercard®. Membership costs $45 or $100 a year, depending on which level you choose. Though, new cardholders will get a $45 statement credit after making at least $45 in Sam’s Club purchases in the first 30 days.
Learn more about this card from our review of the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®.
Verizon Visa® Card
Here’s why: If you’re a Verizon customer, this card could help you reduce your bills and put some money toward a new device. The Verizon Visa® Card lets you earn rewards as a percentage on purchases in the form of Verizon Dollars. You’ll be eligible for …
- 4% back on gas and grocery store purchases
- 3% back on dining purchases, including take-out and delivery
- 2% on Verizon purchases
- 1% on all other purchases where Visa is accepted
You can use your Verizon Dollars to help pay your Verizon wireless or Fios bill, make a down payment, buy or upgrade a new device, and purchase accessories.
Plus, you can get up to $10 off per month on each eligible account or line that you set up for autopay with online billing. This is good for up to 10 lines on select plans.
While this card can be a great deal for Verizon loyalists, your options are really limited when it comes to redeeming rewards — so make sure the card makes sense for you.
Learn more about paying your bills with a credit card.
How to make the most of these Synchrony Bank cards
Store credit cards, including these options from Synchrony Bank, can offer meaningful rewards and benefits, but they also come with plenty of risks. Before you apply for one, it’s important to understand what to watch out for in the card’s terms and conditions.
For instance, some Synchrony Bank credit cards are considered closed-loop credit cards, which means they can only be used at specific retailers. If you’re looking for a card that you can use anywhere, then a closed-loop card probably isn’t for you.
Store cards typically carry higher APRs than other cards, as well. If you carry a balance on any of these cards, you could get hit with heavy interest charges that outweigh the benefit of your rewards.
No matter which of these cards you might opt for, it’s important to pick a card that matches your spending habits. If you find yourself visiting a store and using your card more often just because it offers rewards, then it’s probably worth considering another card.
How we picked these cards
To pick the best Synchrony Bank credit cards, we evaluated dozens of the retail cards Synchrony Bank offers. Then, we picked cards that stood out from the pack in one way or another.
We also wanted to make sure our picks were relevant to your daily life. Synchrony Bank offers credit cards from many different retailers, but it’s not always clear how the card could benefit the average consumer. We focused on cards that could offer serious value for either major purchases or purchases you might make on a regular basis.