Synchrony Preferred Mastercard Review: Rewards, Fees & Benefits

Rewards

Category	Rate	Type	Cap
All Other Purchases Earn 1% cash back on every purchase, everywhere Mastercard is accepted.	1x	Cash Back	No cap

Benefits & Protections

Benefit	Category	Value / Coverage
Mastercard Airport Concierge™ Arrange for a personal, dedicated Meet and Greet agent to escort you through the airport on departure, arrival, or any connecting flights at over 700 airports worldwide. Cardholders receive a 15% savings on services.	Airport Access	15% savings on Meet and Greet services
No Annual Fee The Synchrony Preferred Mastercard does not charge an annual fee for card membership.	Financial	No annual fee
Priceless® Experiences Provides access to unique offers and experiences in cities around the globe through the Priceless® Cities program.	Lifestyle	Access to exclusive offers and experiences
2% Cash Back on All Purchases Earn 2% cash back on every eligible purchase made with the Synchrony Preferred Mastercard, everywhere Mastercard is accepted.	Rewards	2% cash back
ID Theft Protection Mastercard ID Theft Protection™ provides services to help detect and resolve identity theft. This includes ID Theft Alerts, Expert Resolution Services, and Emergency Wallet Replacement.	Security	Access to monitoring, resolution services, and wallet replacement
Zero Liability Protection Protects cardholders from unauthorized purchases. Cardholders are not held responsible for unauthorized transactions if they report them promptly.	Security	Protection against unauthorized purchases
ShopRunner Membership Enjoy free 2-day shipping and free returns at over 100+ online stores. Cardholders must enroll to activate this benefit.	Shopping	Free 2-day shipping and free returns
Global Service Mastercard Global Service™ provides emergency assistance virtually anytime, anywhere, and in any language. This includes reporting a lost or stolen card, obtaining an emergency card replacement or cash advance, finding an ATM, and answering questions about your account.	Travel	Emergency assistance services

Interest Rates

Purchase APR21.24%–31.24% Variable

Cash Advance APR31.24%

Penalty APR31.24%

Min. Interest Charge$2

Fees

Annual Fee $0 — No Annual Fee

Foreign Transaction FeeNone

Balance Transfer FeeEither $10 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance FeeEither $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Late Payment FeeUp to $41

Returned Payment FeeUp to $41

Approval & Eligibility

670 Recommended minimum FICO · Range 670–850

300 Poor580 Fair 670 Good740 Very Good 800+ Exceptional

Approval DifficultyModerate

Credit ProfileGood

Approval OddsGood

Decision TimeInstant

Pre-QualificationNot available

Student EligibleNo

Co-ApplicantNot allowed

Business EligibleNo

Credit Limit Range $500 – No limit listed

Issuer Rules & Restrictions

Maximum Cards per Issuer

You can hold up to 4 cards from this issuer simultaneously.

Shutdown Risk Triggers

Manufactured spending (MS), excessive credit seeking (too many applications in a short period, especially with Synchrony), high cumulative credit limit across all Synchrony accounts relative to income, sudden large spending patterns inconsistent with historical behavior, payment defaults or frequent late payments, and suspected fraudulent activity.

Cliff Effect Rules

Synchrony does not have strict 'card family' rules like some other issuers (e.g., 5/24). However, a significant 'cliff effect' exists regarding cumulative credit exposure. If an applicant has a high total credit limit across multiple Synchrony accounts, or too many recent applications, Synchrony may deny new applications or reduce existing credit limits, regardless of individual card eligibility. This is an internal risk management strategy to limit overall exposure to a single customer.

International Friendly

May have limitations for international use.

Additional Issuer Rules

The Synchrony Preferred Mastercard is primarily an unadvertised, general-purpose credit card often offered as a fallback option when an applicant does not qualify for a specific Synchrony-issued store or co-branded card. It typically does not feature a sign-up bonus. **Eligibility Requirements (2026 Projection)**: Applicants must generally have fair to good credit (FICO 670+ is a common baseline for Synchrony's general-purpose cards, though it can be lower for fallback offers), a stable income, and a reasonable debt-to-income ratio. Synchrony considers existing credit relationships with them, recent credit inquiries, and overall credit history. Approval is subject to Synchrony's internal underwriting criteria, which may be more lenient for this card compared to premium co-branded offerings, given its fallback nature. Applicants must be 18 years or older and a U.S. resident.

Military & Hardship

MLA Compliant

Complies with the Military Lending Act (36% APR cap for active duty servicemembers).

SCRA Benefits

Synchrony complies with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Eligible Servicemembers may qualify for a 6% interest rate cap on accounts opened prior to active duty. For accounts opened while on active duty, a 36% Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) cap may apply.

Hardship Program

Hardship program available.

Synchrony Preferred Mastercard