The basic steps to close a Synchrony card
To close a Synchrony credit card, call the customer service number on the back of your card and tell them you want to close the account. Have your card number ready. The representative will confirm your identity, ask why you're closing it, and process the closure. The account will be marked as closed by the cardholder, which is the cleanest record for your credit file.
Before you call, pay off any remaining balance. Synchrony will not close an account with an outstanding balance — you'll need to settle what you owe first. If you have a promotional offer still running (like 0% financing), closing the account may trigger interest charges on the remaining balance, so check your terms before you proceed.
After closure, keep the account open in your credit report for at least a year. Closing it doesn't erase the account history, but it does stop the card from helping your credit mix and available credit. The older the account, the less damage closure does to your score.
Key Takeaways
- Call the number on the back of your Synchrony card and request closure; the representative will walk you through the process and confirm when it's complete.
- Pay off your full balance before calling, because Synchrony will not close an account with money owed.
- Closing a card stops it from building credit history and reduces your available credit, which may lower your score temporarily.
- Ask the representative whether closing will trigger interest on any promotional financing before you confirm the closure.
- Request written confirmation of the closure and keep it for your records.
What happens to your balance when you close
If you have a balance when you request closure, Synchrony will refuse to close the account. You must pay it down to zero first. This is standard across all card issuers — they won't close an account with money owed because it creates accounting and collection problems on their end.
If you're carrying a promotional rate (such as 0% APR for 12 months), closing the account may end that promotion when ready. Any remaining balance will revert to the regular purchase APR, which could be 18% or higher depending on your creditworthiness. Before you call to close, log into your Synchrony account online or call and ask whether closing will cancel any active promotional offers. If it will, you may want to wait until the promotional period ends or the balance is paid off.
Once the account is closed and the balance is paid, you won't be able to use the card anymore. Synchrony will not reopen a closed account, so if you change your mind later, you would need to open a new account from scratch.
How closing affects your credit score
Closing a credit card typically lowers your score in the short term, usually by 10 to 50 points depending on how much credit you have open and how old the account is. The damage comes from two changes: your available credit shrinks (if you had a $5,000 limit and close that card, your total available credit drops by $5,000), and your credit mix may shift if this is your only card of a certain type.
The older the account, the less damage closure does. A card you've held for 10 years will hurt more to close than one you've had for two years, because older accounts are worth more to your credit history. If you're planning to explore for a mortgage or car loan in the next few months, closing a card right before you explore can work against you.
The account itself stays on your credit report for seven years after closure, so the history doesn't disappear. Over time, as the account ages and you build new credit, the impact of the closure shrinks. The score hit is temporary, not permanent.
Alternatives to closing if you want to keep the account open
If you're closing the card because you don't use it, consider keeping it open instead. An unused card with a zero balance helps your credit score by keeping your available credit high and your credit mix diverse. Synchrony won't close an account just because you're not using it, so there's no downside to leaving it alone.
If you're closing because of an annual fee, call Synchrony and ask whether they will waive it or downgrade you to a no-fee version of the card. Many Synchrony cards (especially store cards like Amazon, Target, or Lowe's) don't charge annual fees, but some premium cards do. A representative may be willing to waive one year's fee to keep you as a customer, or they may offer to move you to a different card in their product line.
If you're closing because of high interest rates or poor customer service, those are legitimate reasons to go. But if the only issue is that you're not using it, leaving it open costs you nothing and helps your credit profile.
What to do after you close the account
After the representative confirms the closure, ask them to send you written confirmation by mail or email. Write down the date, time, and representative's name. This documentation protects you if Synchrony later reports the account as closed by them rather than by you — a distinction that matters on your credit report.
Check your credit report 30 to 60 days after closure to confirm the account shows as "closed by consumer" rather than "closed by creditor." You can pull your report free once per year from each of the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) at annualcreditreport.com. If it shows the wrong status, contact Synchrony with your written confirmation and ask them to correct it.
Destroy the physical card once closure is confirmed. Cut it up or shred it so it can't be used. You don't need to wait for Synchrony to send you a new card — once the account is closed, the card is dead.
Synchrony cards issued through retail partners
If your Synchrony card is a store card (Amazon, Target, Lowe's, Walmart, or another retailer), the closure process is the same: call the number on the back and request closure. However, some store cards offer benefits tied to the retailer's loyalty program, so closing the card may affect your status with that program. Check the retailer's website before you close to see whether the card and the loyalty program are linked.
Store cards often have no annual fee and no minimum spending requirement, so if you're on the fence about closing, keeping it open is usually harmless. The main reason to close a store card is if you don't shop at that retailer anymore or if the card's interest rate is significantly higher than your other cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I close my Synchrony card online?
No, Synchrony requires you to close accounts by phone. Log into your account online to find the customer service number, or use the number on the back of your card. The phone-only policy is standard across most card issuers because they want to confirm your identity and document your request.
What if I have a balance I can't pay off right now?
You cannot close the account until the balance is paid. You can keep using the card to pay down the balance, or you can make a large payment and then request closure. If you're struggling to pay, contact Synchrony's hardship department to discuss a payment plan before you close the account.
Will closing the card hurt my credit score permanently?
No. The score hit is temporary, usually lasting a few months to a year. The account stays on your report for seven years, so the history remains, but the impact of the closure fades as you build new credit and time passes. Closing a card is not a permanent mark against you.
Do I need to close the card if I'm not using it?
No. An unused card with a zero balance actually helps your credit score by keeping your available credit high. There's no fee or penalty for leaving it open, so closing it would only hurt you. Keep it open unless you have a specific reason to close it.
What if Synchrony says the account is closed by them, not by me?
This can happen if there's a miscommunication or error. Request written confirmation of your closure request, and if the report shows "closed by creditor," contact Synchrony with that confirmation and ask them to correct it to "closed by consumer." You can also dispute the error with the credit bureaus using your written confirmation as proof.