Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Synchrony Financial is a third-party financial company that partners with many retailers, including Amazon, to provide store credit cards, financing options, and promotional payment plans. It is not Amazon itself. Amazon simply offers Synchrony products as one of its payment options.
For Amazon shoppers, Synchrony is mainly used for two different types of accounts:
Amazon Store Card (Synchrony Bank)
Amazon Secured Card (Synchrony Bank)
These are credit products issued by Synchrony that can be linked to your Amazon account.
What is the Amazon Synchrony card used for?
The main reason people get it is for the Amazon rewards.
Amazon Store Card benefits:
Usually gives 5% back on eligible Amazon purchases if you have an eligible Amazon Prime membership.
The reward is generally applied as a statement credit or promotional reward depending on the card terms.
May offer special financing promotions (for example, no interest if paid in full within a certain time).
For someone who spends a lot on Amazon, the 5% reward can be valuable.
Example:
If someone spends:
$200/month on Amazon
$2,400/year total
A 5% reward would equal:
$2,400 × 0.05 = $120 back per year
If someone spends $10,000/year on Amazon:
$10,000 × 0.05 = $500 back per year
So for heavy Amazon users who pay the balance in full every month, it can make sense.
The problem you ran into: You wanted the 5% Amazon credit card, but got a "gift card"
This is a very common point of confusion.
When applying through Amazon, there are multiple Synchrony products and promotions. Depending on what was selected, Amazon may have approved your family member for a different Synchrony product instead of the Amazon Store Card.
What you described sounds like the Synchrony-issued Amazon gift card / promotional card product, not the Amazon Store Card you were trying to obtain.
The confusion happens because:
It is branded with Amazon/Synchrony.
It may appear as a "card."
It can be linked to Amazon.
It may have automatic payment settings.
But it does not provide the same 5% Amazon Prime rewards as the Amazon Store Card.
Basically, you ended up with a financing/payment product you did not intend to open.
Why you had trouble paying it
Synchrony accounts are separate from Amazon.
Many people assume:
"Because it is connected to Amazon, I pay it through Amazon."
Usually, that is not the case.
You normally have to:
Go to Synchrony's website:
Synchrony Financial Account Access
Create an online account using:
The card/account number
Social Security number
Date of birth
Email address
Once logged in, you can:
View the balance
Make payments
Change automatic payments
Download statements
Close the account
You can also call the customer service number on the back of the card.
How automatic payments caused confusion
When the account was opened, Synchrony may have automatically enrolled it in:
Minimum payment autopay
Full balance autopay
Linked bank account payments
This means money could be pulled automatically even though you never intentionally set up a payment system.
Always check:
Which bank account is linked
Whether autopay is enabled
What payment amount is selected
How to remove Synchrony from Amazon and return to a normal credit card
To remove it from Amazon:
Log into Amazon.
Go to:
Account → Your Payments
Find the Synchrony card/payment method.
Select:
Remove
Delete
Remove from wallet
Add your regular credit card back as the default payment method.
Then:
Account → Your Payments → Default Payment Preference
Choose your preferred credit card.
How to close the Synchrony account
Do not just remove it from Amazon. That only disconnects it.
To close it:
Step 1:
Pay the balance completely.
Step 2:
Contact Synchrony and request:
"I want to close this account permanently. Please confirm the account is closed and send written confirmation."
Step 3:
Save:
Confirmation number
Email confirmation
Final statement
After closing, check your credit report later to make sure it shows:
Closed at customer's request
Was it worth having?
It depends.
Worth it if:
You buy a lot from Amazon
You have Prime
You pay the entire balance every month
You want the 5% rewards
Probably not worth it if:
You rarely buy from Amazon
You carry a balance
You dislike store-specific credit cards
You accidentally opened the wrong Synchrony product
The biggest danger is that the interest rate on store cards can be very high. A person who carries a balance can easily lose more in interest than they gain from the 5% reward. #amazonprime
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases.
Synchrony Financial is a third-party financial company that partners with many retailers, including Amazon, to provide store credit cards, financing options, and promotional payment plans. It is not Amazon itself. Amazon simply offers Synchrony products as one of its payment options.
For Amazon shoppers, Synchrony is mainly used for two different types of accounts:
Amazon Store Card (Synchrony Bank)
Amazon Secured Card (Synchrony Bank)
These are credit products issued by Synchrony that can be linked to your Amazon account.
What is the Amazon Synchrony card used for?
The main reason people get it is for the Amazon rewards.
Amazon Store Card benefits:
Usually gives 5% back on eligible Amazon purchases if you have an eligible Amazon Prime membership.
The reward is generally applied as a statement credit or promotional reward depending on the card terms.
May offer special financing promotions (for example, no interest if paid in full within a certain time).
For someone who spends a lot on Amazon, the 5% reward can be valuable.
Example:
If someone spends:
$200/month on Amazon
$2,400/year total
A 5% reward would equal:
$2,400 × 0.05 = $120 back per year
If someone spends $10,000/year on Amazon:
$10,000 × 0.05 = $500 back per year
So for heavy Amazon users who pay the balance in full every month, it can make sense.
The problem you ran into: You wanted the 5% Amazon credit card, but got a "gift card"
This is a very common point of confusion.
When applying through Amazon, there are multiple Synchrony products and promotions. Depending on what was selected, Amazon may have approved your family member for a different Synchrony product instead of the Amazon Store Card.
What you described sounds like the Synchrony-issued Amazon gift card / promotional card product, not the Amazon Store Card you were trying to obtain.
The confusion happens because:
It is branded with Amazon/Synchrony.
It may appear as a "card."
It can be linked to Amazon.
It may have automatic payment settings.
But it does not provide the same 5% Amazon Prime rewards as the Amazon Store Card.
Basically, you ended up with a financing/payment product you did not intend to open.
Why you had trouble paying it
Synchrony accounts are separate from Amazon.
Many people assume:
"Because it is connected to Amazon, I pay it through Amazon."
Usually, that is not the case.
You normally have to:
Go to Synchrony's website:
Synchrony Financial Account Access
Create an online account using:
The card/account number
Social Security number
Date of birth
Email address
Once logged in, you can:
View the balance
Make payments
Change automatic payments
Download statements
Close the account
You can also call the customer service number on the back of the card.
How automatic payments caused confusion
When the account was opened, Synchrony may have automatically enrolled it in:
Minimum payment autopay
Full balance autopay
Linked bank account payments
This means money could be pulled automatically even though you never intentionally set up a payment system.
Always check:
Which bank account is linked
Whether autopay is enabled
What payment amount is selected
How to remove Synchrony from Amazon and return to a normal credit card
To remove it from Amazon:
Log into Amazon.
Go to:
Account → Your Payments
Find the Synchrony card/payment method.
Select:
Remove
Delete
Remove from wallet
Add your regular credit card back as the default payment method.
Then:
Account → Your Payments → Default Payment Preference
Choose your preferred credit card.
How to close the Synchrony account
Do not just remove it from Amazon. That only disconnects it.
To close it:
Step 1:
Pay the balance completely.
Step 2:
Contact Synchrony and request:
"I want to close this account permanently. Please confirm the account is closed and send written confirmation."
Step 3:
Save:
Confirmation number
Email confirmation
Final statement
After closing, check your credit report later to make sure it shows:
Closed at customer's request
Was it worth having?
It depends.
Worth it if:
You buy a lot from Amazon
You have Prime
You pay the entire balance every month
You want the 5% rewards
Probably not worth it if:
You rarely buy from Amazon
You carry a balance
You dislike store-specific credit cards
You accidentally opened the wrong Synchrony product
The biggest danger is that the interest rate on store cards can be very high. A person who carries a balance can easily lose more in interest than they gain from the 5% reward. #amazonprime
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases.
