Synchrony Financial (SYF) 10-Q 22 Jul 21 2021 Q2 Quarterly report Financial data

Cover Document

Cover Document - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jul. 15, 2021
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36560
Entity Registrant Name	SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	51-0483352
Entity Address, Address Line One	777 Long Ridge Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Stamford,
Entity Address, State or Province	CT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	06902
City Area Code	203
Local Phone Number	585-2400
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Smaller Reporting Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		569,699,116
Entity Central Index Key	0001601712
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol	SYF
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series A Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares Each Representing a 1/40th Interest in a Share of 5.625% Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A
Trading Symbol	SYFPrA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans (Note 4)	$ 3,567	$ 3,808	$ 7,299	$ 8,148
Interest on cash and debt securities	11	22	21	89
Total interest income	3,578	3,830	7,320	8,237
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits	146	293	316	649
Interest on senior unsecured notes	76	82	158	170
Total interest expense	266	434	569	951
Net interest income	3,312	3,396	6,751	7,286
Retailer share arrangements	(1,006)	(773)	(1,995)	(1,699)
Provision for credit losses (Note 4)	(194)	1,673	140	3,350
Net interest income, after retailer share arrangements and provision for credit losses	2,500	950	4,616	2,237
Other income:
Interchange revenue	223	134	394	295
Debt cancellation fees	66	69	135	138
Loyalty programs	(247)	(134)	(426)	(292)
Other	47	26	117	51
Total other income	89	95	220	192
Other expense:
Employee costs	359	327	723	651
Professional fees	189	189	379	386
Marketing and business development	114	91	209	202
Information processing	137	116	268	239
Other	149	263	301	510
Total other expense	948	986	1,880	1,988
Earnings before provision for income taxes	1,641	59	2,956	441
Provision for income taxes (Note 12)	399	11	689	107
Net earnings	1,242	48	2,267	334
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$ 1,232	$ 37	$ 2,246	$ 312
Earnings per share
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 2.13	$ 0.06	$ 3.87	$ 0.52
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 2.12	$ 0.06	$ 3.84	$ 0.52
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans (Note 4)	$ 900	$ 1,200	$ 2,000	$ 2,500
Interest expense:
Interest on borrowings of consolidated securitization entities	44	59	95	132
Provision for credit losses (Note 4)	$ (23)	$ 480	$ (80)	$ 1,000

Condensed Consolidated Statem_2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 1,242	$ 48	$ 2,267	$ 334
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Debt securities	(2)	12	(8)	29
Currency translation adjustments	2	1	4	(7)
Employee benefit plans	0	(1)	(1)	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	12	(5)	21
Comprehensive income	$ 1,242	$ 60	$ 2,262	$ 355

Condensed Consolidated Statem_3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Assets
Cash and equivalents		$ 11,117	$ 11,524
Debt securities (Note 3)		5,728	7,469
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)	[1],[2]	78,374	81,867
Less: Allowance for credit losses		(9,023)	(10,265)
Loan receivables, net		69,351	71,602
Loan receivables held for sale (Note 4)		0	5
Goodwill		1,105	1,078
Intangible assets, net (Note 6)		1,098	1,125
Other assets		3,618	3,145
Total assets		92,017	95,948
Deposits: (Note 7)
Interest-bearing deposit accounts		59,500	62,469
Non-interest-bearing deposit accounts		341	313
Total deposits		59,841	62,782
Borrowings: (Notes 5 and 8)
Senior unsecured notes		6,470	7,965
Total borrowings	[3]	13,457	15,775
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		4,522	4,690
Total liabilities		77,820	83,247
Equity:
Preferred stock, par share value $0.001 per share; 750,000 shares authorized; 750,000 shares issued and outstanding at both June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and aggregate liquidation preference of $750 at both June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020		734	734
Common Stock, par share value $0.001 per share; 4,000,000,000 shares authorized; 833,984,684 shares issued at both June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020; 573,416,152 and 584,009,550 shares outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively		1	1
Additional paid-in capital		9,620	9,570
Retained earnings		12,560	10,621
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Debt securities		17	25
Currency translation adjustments		(18)	(22)
Employee benefit plans		(55)	(54)
Treasury stock, at cost; 260,568,532 and 249,975,134 shares at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively		(8,662)	(8,174)
Total equity		14,197	12,701
Total liabilities and equity		92,017	95,948
Restricted loans of consolidated securitization entities
Assets
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		22,380	25,395
Less: Allowance for credit losses		(2,200)	(2,700)
Loan receivables, net	[4]	20,169	22,683
Other assets	[5]	374	52
Total assets		20,543	22,735
Borrowings: (Notes 5 and 8)
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities	[3]	6,987	7,810
Total liabilities		7,004	7,833
Unsecuritized Loans Held for Investment [Member]
Assets
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		$ 55,994	$ 56,472
[1]	Total loan receivables include $22.4 billion and $25.4 billion of restricted loans of consolidated securitization entities at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. See Note 5. Variable Interest Entities for further information on these restricted loans.
[2]	At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, loan receivables included deferred costs, net of deferred income, of $168 million and $153 million, respectively.
[3]	The amounts presented above for outstanding borrowings include unamortized debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs.
[4]	Includes $2.2 billion and $2.7 billion of related allowance for credit losses resulting in gross restricted loans of $22.4 billion and $25.4 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
[5]	Includes $371 million and $48 million of segregated funds held by the VIEs at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, which are classified as restricted cash and equivalents and included as a component of other assets in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

Consolidated Statements of Fina

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position Statement (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	750,000	750,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	750,000	750,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued	750,000	750,000
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference, Value	$ 750	$ 750
Common stock par value (in usd per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	4,000,000,000	4,000,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	833,984,684	833,984,684
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	573,416,152	584,009,550
Treasury Stock, Shares	260,568,532	249,975,134

Condensed Consolidated Statem_4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Retained EarningsCumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Retained EarningsCumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued				750,000
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019					833,985,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 15,088		$ 12,812	$ 734	$ 1	$ 9,537	$ 12,117		$ 9,841	$ (58)	$ (7,243)
Balance (Accounting Standards Update 2016-13) at Dec. 31, 2019		$ (2,276)						$ (2,276)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	286						286
Other comprehensive income	9									9
Purchases of treasury stock	(985)										(985)
Stock-based compensation (in shares)					0
Stock-based compensation	$ (6)					(14)
Stock-based compensation, treasury stock issued											29
Treasury Stock Reissued at Lower than Repurchase Price							(21)
Preferred Stock, Dividends Per Share, Declared	$ 14.22
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	$ (11)						(11)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.22
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	$ (135)						(135)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020					833,985,000
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	11,970			734	$ 1	9,523	9,960			(49)	(8,199)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019					833,985,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	15,088		$ 12,812	734	$ 1	9,537	12,117		$ 9,841	(58)	(7,243)
Balance (Accounting Standards Update 2016-13) at Dec. 31, 2019		$ (2,276)						$ (2,276)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	334
Other comprehensive income	21
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020					833,985,000
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	11,899			$ 734	$ 1	9,532	9,852			(37)	(8,183)
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued				750,000
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020					833,985,000
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	11,970			$ 734	$ 1	9,523	9,960			(49)	(8,199)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	48						48
Other comprehensive income	12									12
Purchases of treasury stock	0										0
Stock-based compensation (in shares)					0
Stock-based compensation	$ 8					9
Stock-based compensation, treasury stock issued											16
Treasury Stock Reissued at Lower than Repurchase Price							(17)
Preferred Stock, Dividends Per Share, Declared	$ 14.06
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	$ (11)						(11)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.22
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	$ (128)						(128)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020					833,985,000
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 11,899			$ 734	$ 1	9,532	9,852			(37)	(8,183)
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued				750,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued	750,000			750,000
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	833,984,684				833,985,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 12,701			$ 734	$ 1	9,570	10,621			(51)	(8,174)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	1,025						1,025
Other comprehensive income	(5)									(5)
Purchases of treasury stock	(200)										(200)
Stock-based compensation (in shares)					0
Stock-based compensation	$ 57					22
Stock-based compensation, treasury stock issued											72
Treasury Stock Reissued at Lower than Repurchase Price							(37)
Preferred Stock, Dividends Per Share, Declared	$ 14.06
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	$ (11)						(11)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.22
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	$ (128)						(128)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021					833,985,000
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 13,439			734	$ 1	9,592	11,470			(56)	(8,302)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	833,984,684				833,985,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 12,701			734	$ 1	9,570	10,621			(51)	(8,174)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	2,267
Other comprehensive income	$ (5)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021	833,984,684				833,985,000
Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	$ 14,197			$ 734	$ 1	9,620	12,560			(56)	(8,662)
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued				750,000
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021					833,985,000
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	13,439			$ 734	$ 1	9,592	11,470			(56)	(8,302)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings	1,242						1,242
Other comprehensive income	0									0
Purchases of treasury stock	(393)										(393)
Stock-based compensation (in shares)					0
Stock-based compensation	$ 47					28
Stock-based compensation, treasury stock issued											33
Treasury Stock Reissued at Lower than Repurchase Price							(14)
Preferred Stock, Dividends Per Share, Declared	$ 14.06
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	$ (10)						(10)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.22
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	$ (128)						(128)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021	833,984,684				833,985,000
Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	$ 14,197			$ 734	$ 1	$ 9,620	$ 12,560			$ (56)	$ (8,662)
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued	750,000			750,000

Condensed Consolidated Statem_5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cash flows - operating activities
Net earnings	$ 2,267	$ 334
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided from operating activities
Provision for credit losses	140	3,350
Deferred income taxes	184	(328)
Depreciation and amortization	192	193
(Increase) decrease in interest and fees receivable	596	348
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(150)	(34)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other liabilities	(214)	(312)
All other operating activities	265	367
Cash provided from (used for) operating activities	3,280	3,918
Cash flows - investing activities
Maturity and sales of debt securities	3,836	4,227
Purchases of debt securities	(2,140)	(4,891)
Proceeds from sale of loan receivables	23	709
Net (increase) decrease in loan receivables, including held for sale	1,374	6,071
All other investing activities	(309)	(184)
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities	2,784	5,932
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities
Proceeds from issuance of securitized debt	1,050	500
Maturities and repayment of securitized debt	(1,875)	(2,806)
Senior unsecured notes
Maturities and repayment of senior unsecured notes	(1,500)	(1,500)
Dividends paid on preferred stock	(21)	(22)
Net increase (decrease) in deposits	(2,957)	(997)
Purchases of treasury stock	(593)	(985)
Dividends paid on common stock	(256)	(263)
All other financing activities	25	(10)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(6,127)	(6,083)
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents, including restricted amounts	(63)	3,767
Cash and equivalents, including restricted amounts, at beginning of period	11,605	12,647
Cash and equivalents	11,117	16,344
Restricted cash and equivalents included in other assets	425	70
Total cash and equivalents, including restricted amounts, at end of period	$ 11,542	$ 16,414

Business Description

Business Description	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Business Description	BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Synchrony Financial (the “Company”) provides a range of credit products through financing programs it has established with a diverse group of national and regional retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups, industry associations and healthcare service providers. We primarily offer private label, Dual Card and general purpose co-branded credit cards, promotional financing and installment lending, and savings products insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") through Synchrony Bank (the “Bank”). References to the “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” are to Synchrony Financial and its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires.

Basis of Presentation and Summa

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates based on assumptions about current, and for some estimates, future, economic and market conditions (for example, unemployment, housing, interest rates and market liquidity) which affect reported amounts and related disclosures in our condensed consolidated financial statements. Although our current estimates contemplate current conditions and how we expect them to change in the future, as appropriate, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be different than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially affect our results of operations and financial position. Among other effects, such changes could result in incremental losses on loan receivables, future impairments of debt securities, goodwill and intangible assets, increases in reserves for contingencies, establishment of valuation allowances on deferred tax assets and increases in our tax liabilities. We primarily conduct our operations within the United States and Canada. Substantially all of our revenues are from U.S. customers. The operating activities conducted by our non-U.S. affiliates use the local currency as their functional currency. The effects of translating the financial statements of these non-U.S. affiliates to U.S. dollars are included in equity. Asset and liability accounts are translated at period-end exchange rates, while revenues and expenses are translated at average rates for the respective periods. Consolidated Basis of Presentation The Company’s financial statements have been prepared on a consolidated basis. Under this basis of presentation, our financial statements consolidate all of our subsidiaries – i.e., entities in which we have a controlling financial interest, most often because we hold a majority voting interest. To determine if we hold a controlling financial interest in an entity, we first evaluate if we are required to apply the variable interest entity (“VIE”) model to the entity, otherwise the entity is evaluated under the voting interest model. Where we hold current or potential rights that give us the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance (“power”) combined with a variable interest that gives us the right to receive potentially significant benefits or the obligation to absorb potentially significant losses (“significant economics”), we have a controlling financial interest in that VIE. Rights held by others to remove the party with power over the VIE are not considered unless one party can exercise those rights unilaterally. We consolidate certain securitization entities under the VIE model because we have both power and significant economics. See Note 5. Variable Interest Entities . Interim Period Presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto are unaudited. These statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) that we considered necessary to present a fair statement of our results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The results reported in these condensed consolidated financial statements should not be considered as necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2020 annual consolidated financial statements and the related notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (our "2020 Form 10-K"). See Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our 2020 annual consolidated financial statements in our 2020 Form 10-K, for additional information on our other significant accounting policies.

Debt Securities

Debt Securities	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Investment Securities	DEBT SECURITIES All of our debt securities are classified as available-for-sale and are held to meet our liquidity objectives or to comply with the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”). Our debt securities consist of the following: June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Gross Gross Gross Gross Amortized unrealized unrealized Estimated Amortized unrealized unrealized Estimated ($ in millions) cost gains losses fair value cost gains losses fair value U.S. government and federal agency $ 2,531 $ 1 $ (1) $ 2,531 $ 3,926 $ 1 $ — $ 3,927 State and municipal 37 — (2) 35 40 — (1) 39 Residential mortgage-backed (a) 696 20 (2) 714 817 25 — 842 Asset-backed (b) 2,433 6 — 2,439 2,652 9 — 2,661 Other 8 1 — 9 — — — — Total $ 5,705 $ 28 $ (5) $ 5,728 $ 7,435 $ 35 $ (1) $ 7,469 _______________________ (a) All of our residential mortgage-backed securities have been issued by government-sponsored entities and are collateralized by U.S. mortgages. At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $168 million and $229 million of residential mortgage-backed securities, respectively, are pledged by the Bank as collateral to the Federal Reserve to secure Federal Reserve Discount Window advances. (b) Our asset-backed securities are collateralized by credit card and auto loans. The following table presents the estimated fair values and gross unrealized losses of our available-for-sale debt securities: In loss position for Less than 12 months 12 months or more Gross Gross Estimated unrealized Estimated unrealized ($ in millions) fair value losses fair value losses At June 30, 2021 U.S. government and federal agency $ 360 $ (1) $ — $ — State and municipal 4 — 20 (2) Residential mortgage-backed 126 (2) — — Asset-backed 499 — — — Other — — — — Total $ 989 $ (3) $ 20 $ (2) At December 31, 2020 U.S. government and federal agency $ — $ — $ — $ — State and municipal 3 — 21 (1) Residential mortgage-backed 6 — — — Asset-backed 242 — — — Total $ 251 $ — $ 21 $ (1) We regularly review debt securities for impairment resulting from credit loss using both qualitative and quantitative criteria, as necessary based on the composition of the portfolio at period end. Based on our assessment, no material impairments for credit losses were recognized during the period. We presently do not intend to sell our debt securities that are in an unrealized loss position and believe that it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell these securities before recovery of our amortized cost. Contractual Maturities of Investments in Available-for-Sale Debt Securities Amortized Estimated Weighted At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) cost fair value Average yield (a) Due Within one year $ 3,229 $ 3,232 0.3 % After one year through five years $ 1,739 $ 1,742 0.3 % After five years through ten years $ 244 $ 253 2.1 % After ten years $ 493 $ 501 1.7 % _____________________ (a) Weighted average yield is calculated based on the amortized cost of each security. In calculating yield, no adjustment has been made with respect to any tax-exempt obligations. We expect actual maturities to differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to prepay certain obligations. There were no material realized gains or losses recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

Loan Receivables and Allowance

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Receivables [Abstract]
Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses	LOAN RECEIVABLES AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES ($ in millions) June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Credit cards $ 74,429 $ 78,455 Consumer installment loans 2,507 2,125 Commercial credit products 1,379 1,250 Other 59 37 Total loan receivables, before allowance for credit losses (a)(b) $ 78,374 $ 81,867 _______________________ (a) Total loan receivables include $22.4 billion and $25.4 billion of restricted loans of consolidated securitization entities at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. See Note 5. Variable Interest Entities for further information on these restricted loans. (b) At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, loan receivables included deferred costs, net of deferred income, of $168 million and $153 million, respectively. Allowance for Credit Losses ($ in millions) Balance at April 1, 2021 Provision charged to operations Gross charge-offs Recoveries Balance at Credit cards $ 9,735 $ (163) $ (881) $ 213 $ 8,904 Consumer installment loans 100 (26) (12) 5 67 Commercial credit products 64 (5) (10) 1 50 Other 2 — — — 2 Total $ 9,901 $ (194) $ (903) $ 219 $ 9,023 ($ in millions) Balance at April 1, 2020 Provision charged to operations Gross charge-offs Recoveries Balance at Credit cards $ 9,029 $ 1,633 $ (1,265) $ 240 $ 9,637 Consumer installment loans 83 28 (11) 3 103 Commercial credit products 62 12 (15) 2 61 Other 1 — — — 1 Total $ 9,175 $ 1,673 $ (1,291) $ 245 $ 9,802 ($ in millions) Balance at January 1, 2021 Provision charged to operations Gross charge-offs Recoveries Other Balance at Credit cards $ 10,076 $ 178 $ (1,782) $ 432 $ — $ 8,904 Consumer installment loans 127 (44) (27) 10 1 67 Commercial credit products 61 5 (19) 3 — 50 Other 1 1 — — — 2 Total $ 10,265 $ 140 $ (1,828) $ 445 $ 1 $ 9,023 ($ in millions) Balance at January 1, 2020 Impact of ASU 2016-13 Adoption Post-Adoption Balance at January 1, 2020 Provision charged to operations Gross charge-offs Recoveries Balance at Credit cards $ 5,506 $ 2,989 $ 8,495 $ 3,268 $ (2,660) $ 534 $ 9,637 Consumer installment loans 46 26 72 52 (27) 6 103 Commercial credit products 49 6 55 30 (29) 5 61 Other 1 — 1 — — — 1 Total $ 5,602 $ 3,021 $ 8,623 $ 3,350 $ (2,716) $ 545 $ 9,802 Our allowance for credit losses at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 reflects our estimate of expected credit losses for the life of the loan receivables on our consolidated statement of financial position. The reasonable and supportable forecast period used in our estimate of credit losses at June 30, 2021 was 12 months, consistent with the forecast period utilized since adoption of CECL. Beyond the reasonable and supportable forecast period, we revert to historical mean information at the loan receivables segment level over a 6-month period, gradually increasing the weight of historical losses by an equal amount each month during the reversion period, and utilize historical loss information thereafter for the remaining life of the portfolio. The reversion period and methodology remain unchanged since the adoption of CECL. Losses on loan receivables are estimated and recognized upon origination of the loan, based on expected credit losses for the life of the loan balance at June 30, 2021. Expected credit loss estimates are developed using both quantitative models and qualitative adjustments, and incorporates a macroeconomic forecast, as described within the 2020 Form 10-K. The current and forecasted economic conditions at the balance sheet date including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced our current estimate of expected credit losses. These conditions have improved as compared to December 31, 2020. We also continue to experience improvements in customer payment behavior, which include the effects of recent governmental stimulus actions, that has contributed to a reduction in loan receivables balances and delinquent accounts. Accordingly, our allowance for credit losses decreased by $1.2 billion to $9.0 billion during the six months ended June 30, 2021. See Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our 2020 annual consolidated financial statements in our 2020 Form 10-K, for additional information on our significant accounting policies related to our allowance for credit losses. Delinquent and Non-accrual Loans At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) 30-89 days delinquent 90 or more days delinquent Total past due 90 or more days delinquent and accruing Total non-accruing Credit cards $ 834 $ 773 $ 1,607 $ 773 $ — Consumer installment loans 21 2 23 — 2 Commercial credit products 14 9 23 9 — Total delinquent loans $ 869 $ 784 $ 1,653 $ 782 $ 2 Percentage of total loan receivables 1.1 % 1.0 % 2.1 % 1.0 % — % At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) 30-89 days delinquent 90 or more days delinquent Total past due 90 or more days delinquent and accruing Total non-accruing Credit cards $ 1,325 $ 1,128 $ 2,453 $ 1,128 $ — Consumer installment loans 26 5 31 — 5 Commercial credit products 20 10 30 10 — Total delinquent loans $ 1,371 $ 1,143 $ 2,514 $ 1,138 $ 5 Percentage of total loan receivables 1.7 % 1.4 % 3.1 % 1.4 % — % Troubled Debt Restructurings We use certain loan modification programs for borrowers experiencing financial difficulties. These loan modification programs include interest rate reductions and payment deferrals in excess of three months, which were not part of the terms of the original contract. Our TDR loans do not include loans that are classified as loan receivables held for sale or short-term modifications made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19. We have both internal and external loan modification programs. We use long-term modification programs for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty as a loss mitigation strategy to improve long-term collectability of the loans that are classified as TDRs. The long-term program involves changing the structure of the loan to a fixed payment loan with a maturity no longer than 60 months and reducing the interest rate on the loan. The long-term program does not normally provide for the forgiveness of unpaid principal but may allow for the reversal of certain unpaid interest or fee assessments. We also make loan modifications for customers who request financial assistance through external sources, such as consumer credit counseling agency programs. These loans typically receive a reduced interest rate but continue to be subject to the original minimum payment terms and do not normally include waiver of unpaid principal, interest or fees. The following table provides information on our TDR loan modifications during the periods presented: Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, ($ in millions) 2021 2020 2021 2020 Credit cards $ 154 $ 127 $ 415 $ 352 Consumer installment loans — — — — Commercial credit products — — 1 1 Total $ 154 $ 127 $ 416 $ 353 Our allowance for credit losses on TDRs is generally measured based on the difference between the recorded loan receivable and the present value of the expected future cash flows, discounted at the original effective interest rate of the loan. Interest income from loans accounted for as TDRs is accounted for in the same manner as other accruing loans. The following table provides information about loans classified as TDRs and specific reserves. We do not evaluate credit card loans on an individual basis but instead estimate an allowance for credit losses on a collective basis. At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) Total recorded Related allowance Net recorded investment Unpaid principal balance Credit cards $ 1,230 $ (556) $ 674 $ 1,082 Consumer installment loans — — — — Commercial credit products 4 (2) 2 4 Total $ 1,234 $ (558) $ 676 $ 1,086 At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Total recorded Related allowance Net recorded investment Unpaid principal balance Credit cards $ 1,238 $ (561) $ 677 $ 1,084 Consumer installment loans — — — — Commercial credit products 4 (2) 2 4 Total $ 1,242 $ (563) $ 679 $ 1,088 Financial Effects of TDRs As part of our loan modifications for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, we may provide multiple concessions to minimize our economic loss and improve long-term loan performance and collectability. The following table presents the types and financial effects of loans modified and accounted for as TDRs during the periods presented: Three months ended June 30, 2021 2020 ($ in millions) Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms Average recorded investment Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms Average recorded investment Credit cards $ 8 $ 77 $ 1,270 $ 9 $ 67 $ 1,133 Consumer installment loans — — — — — — Commercial credit products — — 4 — — 3 Total $ 8 $ 77 $ 1,274 $ 9 $ 67 $ 1,136 Six months ended June 30, 2021 2020 ($ in millions) Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms Average recorded investment Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms Average recorded investment Credit cards $ 19 $ 156 $ 1,259 $ 21 $ 139 $ 1,137 Consumer installment loans — — — — — — Commercial credit products — — 4 — — 3 Total $ 19 $ 156 $ 1,263 $ 21 $ 139 $ 1,140 Payment Defaults The following table presents the type, number and amount of loans accounted for as TDRs that enrolled in a modification plan within the previous 12 months from the applicable balance sheet date and experienced a payment default and charged-off during the periods presented. Three months ended June 30, 2021 2020 ($ in millions) Accounts defaulted Loans defaulted Accounts defaulted Loans defaulted Credit cards 21,440 $ 60 15,689 $ 40 Consumer installment loans — — — — Commercial credit products 44 — 54 — Total 21,484 $ 60 15,743 $ 40 Six months ended June 30, 2021 2020 ($ in millions) Accounts defaulted Loans defaulted Accounts defaulted Loans defaulted Credit cards 35,366 $ 99 31,914 $ 80 Consumer installment loans — — — — Commercial credit products 76 — 76 — Total 35,442 $ 99 31,990 $ 80 Credit Quality Indicators Our loan receivables portfolio includes both secured and unsecured loans. Secured loan receivables are largely comprised of consumer installment loans secured by equipment. Unsecured loan receivables are largely comprised of our open-ended consumer and commercial revolving credit card loans. As part of our credit risk management activities, on an ongoing basis, we assess overall credit quality by reviewing information related to the performance of a customer’s account with us, including delinquency information, as well as information from credit bureaus relating to the customer’s broader credit performance. We utilize VantageScore credit scores to assist in our assessment of credit quality. VantageScore credit scores are obtained at origination of the account and are refreshed, at a minimum quarterly, but could be as often as weekly, to assist in predicting customer behavior. We categorize these credit scores into the following three credit score categories: (i) 651 or higher, which are considered the strongest credits; (ii) 591 to 650, considered moderate credit risk; and (iii) 590 or less, which are considered weaker credits. There are certain customer accounts for which a VantageScore score is not available where we use alternative sources to assess their credit and predict behavior. The following table provides the most recent VantageScore scores available for our customers at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, as a percentage of each class of loan receivable. For comparability purposes and to provide the best illustration of how the credit risk inherent in our loan portfolios has changed over time, the credit quality information at June 30, 2020 has also been presented to show applicable VantageScore score categories. The table below excludes 0.4%, 0.3% and 0.3% of our total loan receivables balance at each of June 30, 2021, December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively, which represents those customer accounts for which a VantageScore score is not available. June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 June 30, 2020 651 or 591 to 590 or 651 or 591 to 590 or 651 or 591 to 590 or higher 650 less higher 650 less higher 650 less Credit cards 80 % 16 % 4 % 77 % 17 % 6 % 73 % 20 % 7 % Consumer installment loans 81 % 16 % 3 % 78 % 18 % 4 % 77 % 18 % 5 % Commercial credit products 93 % 4 % 3 % 92 % 5 % 3 % 91 % 5 % 4 % Unfunded Lending Commitments We manage the potential risk in credit commitments by limiting the total amount of credit, both by individual customer and in total, by monitoring the size and maturity of our portfolios and by applying the same credit standards for all of our credit products. Unused credit card lines available to our customers totaled approximately $418 billion and $413 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. While these amounts represented the total available unused credit card lines, we have not experienced and do not anticipate that all of our customers will access their entire available line at any given point in time. Interest Income by Product The following table provides additional information about our interest and fees on loans, including merchant discounts, from our loan receivables, including held for sale: Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, ($ in millions) 2021 2020 2021 2020 Credit cards (a) $ 3,484 $ 3,740 $ 7,141 $ 8,012 Consumer installment loans 59 37 112 72 Commercial credit products 23 30 44 63 Other 1 1 2 1 Total $ 3,567 $ 3,808 $ 7,299 $ 8,148 _______________________

Variable Interest Entities

Variable Interest Entities	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entities	VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES We use VIEs to securitize loan receivables and arrange asset-backed financing in the ordinary course of business. Investors in these entities only have recourse to the assets owned by the entity and not to our general credit. We do not have implicit support arrangements with any VIE and we did not provide non-contractual support for previously transferred loan receivables to any VIE in the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020. Our VIEs are able to accept new loan receivables and arrange new asset-backed financings, consistent with the requirements and limitations on such activities placed on the VIE by existing investors. Once an account has been designated to a VIE, the contractual arrangements we have require all existing and future loan receivables originated under such account to be transferred to the VIE. The amount of loan receivables held by our VIEs in excess of the minimum amount required under the asset-backed financing arrangements with investors may be removed by us under removal of accounts provisions. All loan receivables held by a VIE are subject to claims of third-party investors. In evaluating whether we have the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance, we consider the purpose for which the VIE was created, the importance of each of the activities in which it is engaged and our decision-making role, if any, in those activities that significantly determine the entity’s economic performance as compared to other economic interest holders. This evaluation requires consideration of all facts and circumstances relevant to decision-making that affects the entity’s future performance and the exercise of professional judgment in deciding which decision-making rights are most important. In determining whether we have the right to receive benefits or the obligation to absorb losses that could potentially be significant to a VIE, we evaluate all of our economic interests in the entity, regardless of form (debt, equity, management and servicing fees, and other contractual arrangements). This evaluation considers all relevant factors of the entity’s design, including: the entity’s capital structure, contractual rights to earnings or losses, subordination of our interests relative to those of other investors, as well as any other contractual arrangements that might exist that could have the potential to be economically significant. The evaluation of each of these factors in reaching a conclusion about the potential significance of our economic interests is a matter that requires the exercise of professional judgment. We consolidate VIEs where we have the power to direct the activities that significantly affect the VIEs' economic performance, typically because of our role as either servicer or administrator for the VIEs. The power to direct exists because of our role in the design and conduct of the servicing of the VIEs’ assets as well as directing certain affairs of the VIEs, including determining whether and on what terms debt of the VIEs will be issued. The loan receivables in these entities have risks and characteristics similar to our other financing receivables and were underwritten to the same standard. Accordingly, the performance of these assets has been similar to our other comparable loan receivables, and the blended performance of the pools of receivables in these entities reflects the eligibility criteria that we apply to determine which receivables are selected for transfer. Contractually, the cash flows from these financing receivables must first be used to pay third-party debt holders, as well as other expenses of the entity. Excess cash flows, if any, are available to us. The creditors of these entities have no claim on our other assets. The table below summarizes the assets and liabilities of our consolidated securitization VIEs described above: ($ in millions) June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Assets Loan receivables, net (a) $ 20,169 $ 22,683 Other assets (b) 374 52 Total $ 20,543 $ 22,735 Liabilities Borrowings $ 6,987 $ 7,810 Other liabilities 17 23 Total $ 7,004 $ 7,833 _______________________ (a) Includes $2.2 billion and $2.7 billion of related allowance for credit losses resulting in gross restricted loans of $22.4 billion and $25.4 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. (b) Includes $371 million and $48 million of segregated funds held by the VIEs at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, which are classified as restricted cash and equivalents and included as a component of other assets in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The balances presented above are net of intercompany balances and transactions that are eliminated in our condensed consolidated financial statements. We provide servicing for all of our consolidated VIEs. Collections are required to be placed into segregated accounts owned by each VIE in amounts that meet contractually specified minimum levels. These segregated funds are invested in cash and cash equivalents and are restricted as to their use, principally to pay maturing principal and interest on debt and the related servicing fees. Collections above these minimum levels are remitted to us on a daily basis. Income (principally, interest and fees on loans) earned by our consolidated VIEs was $0.9 billion and $1.2 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Related expenses consisted primarily of provision for credit losses of $(23) million and $480 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and interest expense of $44 million and $59 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. These amounts do not include intercompany transactions, principally fees and interest, which are eliminated in our condensed consolidated financial statements. Income (principally, interest and fees on loans) earned by our consolidated VIEs was $2.0 billion and $2.5 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Related expenses consisted primarily of provision for credit losses of $(80) million and $1.0 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and interest expense of $95 million and $132 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible Assets	INTANGIBLE ASSETS June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Gross carrying amount Accumulated amortization Net Gross carrying amount Accumulated amortization Net Customer-related $ 1,791 $ (1,150) $ 641 $ 1,734 $ (1,081) $ 653 Capitalized software and other 1,120 (663) 457 1,043 (571) 472 Total $ 2,911 $ (1,813) $ 1,098 $ 2,777 $ (1,652) $ 1,125 During the six months ended June 30, 2021, we recorded additions to intangible assets subject to amortization of $142 million, primarily related to capitalized software expenditures, as well as customer-related intangible assets. Customer-related intangible assets primarily relate to retail partner contract acquisitions and extensions, as well as purchased credit card relationships. During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, we recorded additions to customer-related intangible assets subject to amortization of $62 million and $18 million, respectively, primarily related to payments made to acquire and extend certain retail partner relationships. These additions had a weighted average amortizable life of 5 years and 7 years for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Amortization expense related to retail partner contracts was $32 million and $33 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $64 million and $65 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and is included as a component of marketing and business development expense in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. All other amortization expense was $51 million and $49 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $101 million and $99 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and is included as a component of other expense in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Deposits

Deposits	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Deposits [Abstract]
Deposits	DEPOSITS June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Amount Average rate (a) Amount Average rate (a) Interest-bearing deposits $ 59,500 1.0 % $ 62,469 1.7 % Non-interest-bearing deposits 341 — 313 — Total deposits $ 59,841 $ 62,782 ____________________ (a) Based on interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 and average deposits balances. At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, interest-bearing deposits included $5.2 billion and $6.5 billion, respectively, of certificates of deposit that exceeded applicable FDIC insurance limits, which are generally $250,000 per depositor. At June 30, 2021, our interest-bearing time deposits maturing for the remainder of 2021 and over the next four years and thereafter were as follows: ($ in millions) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Deposits $ 8,131 $ 12,185 $ 2,248 $ 2,377 $ 662 $ 302 The above maturity table excludes $28.4 billion of demand deposits with no defined maturity, of which $26.9 billion are savings accounts. In addition, at June 30, 2021, we had $5.2 billion of broker network deposit sweeps procured through a program arranger who channels brokerage account deposits to us that are also excluded from the above maturity table. Unless extended, the contracts associated with these broker network deposit sweeps will terminate between 2023 and 2027.

Borrowings

Borrowings	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Borrowings	BORROWINGS June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Maturity date Interest Rate Weighted average interest rate Outstanding Amount (a) Outstanding Amount (a) Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities: Fixed securitized borrowings 2021 - 2023 2.34% - 3.87% 2.96 % $ 4,187 $ 5,510 Floating securitized borrowings 2021 - 2023 0.71% - 0.98% 0.80 % 2,800 2,300 Total borrowings of consolidated securitization entities 2.10 % 6,987 7,810 Senior unsecured notes: Synchrony Financial senior unsecured notes: Fixed senior unsecured notes 2022 - 2029 2.80% - 5.15% 4.13 % 5,722 6,468 Synchrony Bank senior unsecured notes: Fixed senior unsecured notes 2022 3.00% 3.00 % 748 1,497 Total senior unsecured notes 4.00 % 6,470 7,965 Total borrowings $ 13,457 $ 15,775 ___________________ (a) The amounts presented above for outstanding borrowings include unamortized debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs. Debt Maturities The following table summarizes the maturities of the principal amount of our borrowings of consolidated securitization entities and senior unsecured notes for the remainder of 2021 and over the next four years and thereafter: ($ in millions) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Borrowings $ 1,600 $ 4,733 $ 2,157 $ 1,850 $ 1,000 $ 2,150 Credit Facilities As additional sources of liquidity, we have undrawn committed capacity under certain credit facilities, primarily related to our securitization programs.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS For a description of how we estimate fair value, see Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in our 2020 annual consolidated financial statements in our 2020 Form 10-K. The following tables present our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Recurring Fair Value Measurements At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (a) Assets Debt securities U.S. government and federal agency $ — $ 2,531 $ — $ 2,531 State and municipal — — 35 35 Residential mortgage-backed — 714 — 714 Asset-backed — 2,439 — 2,439 Other — — 9 9 Other assets (b) 16 — 9 25 Total $ 16 $ 5,684 $ 53 $ 5,753 At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Assets Debt securities U.S. government and federal agency $ — $ 3,927 $ — $ 3,927 State and municipal — — 39 39 Residential mortgage-backed — 842 — 842 Asset-backed — 2,661 — 2,661 Other assets (b) 16 — 14 30 Total $ 16 $ 7,430 $ 53 $ 7,499 Liabilities Contingent consideration — — 11 11 Total $ — $ — $ 11 $ 11 _______________________ (a) For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, there were no fair value measurements transferred between levels. (b) Other assets primarily relate to equity investments measured at fair value. Level 3 Fair Value Measurements Our Level 3 recurring fair value measurements primarily relate to state and municipal debt instruments, which are valued using non-binding broker quotes or other third-party sources. See Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 9. Fair Value Measurements in our 2020 annual consolidated financial statements in our 2020 Form 10-K for a description of our process to evaluate third-party pricing servicers and a description of our contingent consideration arrangements, respectively. Our state and municipal debt securities are classified as available-for-sale with changes in fair value included in accumulated other comprehensive income. The changes in our Level 3 assets and liabilities that are measured on a recurring basis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were not material. Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value Carrying Corresponding fair value amount At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Financial Assets Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value: Cash and equivalents (a) $ 11,117 $ 11,117 $ 11,117 $ — $ — Other assets (a)(b) $ 425 $ 425 $ 425 $ — $ — Financial assets carried at other than fair value: Loan receivables, net (c) $ 69,351 $ 82,082 $ — $ — $ 82,082 Loan receivables held for sale (c) $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — Financial Liabilities Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value: Deposits $ 59,841 $ 60,266 $ — $ 60,266 $ — Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities $ 6,987 $ 7,095 $ — $ 4,295 $ 2,800 Senior unsecured notes $ 6,470 $ 7,105 $ — $ 7,105 $ — Carrying Corresponding fair value amount At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Financial Assets Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value: Cash and equivalents (a) $ 11,524 $ 11,524 $ 11,524 $ — $ — Other assets (a)(b) $ 81 $ 81 $ 81 $ — $ — Financial assets carried at other than fair value: Loan receivables, net (c) $ 71,602 $ 85,234 $ — $ — $ 85,234 Loan receivables held for sale (c) $ 5 $ 5 $ — $ — $ 5 Financial Liabilities Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value: Deposits $ 62,782 $ 63,382 $ — $ 63,382 $ — Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities $ 7,810 $ 7,977 $ — $ 5,680 $ 2,297 Senior unsecured notes $ 7,965 $ 8,704 $ — $ 8,704 $ — _______________________ (a) For cash and equivalents and restricted cash and equivalents, carrying value approximates fair value due to the liquid nature and short maturity of these instruments. Cash equivalents classified as Level 2 represent U.S. Government and Federal Agency debt securities with original maturities of three months or less or acquired within three months or less of their maturity. (b) This balance relates to restricted cash and equivalents, which is included in other assets.

Regulatory and Capital Adequacy

Regulatory and Capital Adequacy	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Banking Regulation, Risk-Based Information [Abstract]
Regulatory and Capital Adequacy	REGULATORY AND CAPITAL ADEQUACY As a savings and loan holding company and a financial holding company, we are subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Federal Reserve Board and subject to the capital requirements as prescribed by Basel III capital rules and the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Bank is a federally chartered savings association. As such, the Bank is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency of the U.S. Treasury (the “OCC”), which is its primary regulator, and by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”). In addition, the Bank, as an insured depository institution, is supervised by the FDIC. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and, possibly, additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could limit our business activities and have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines, we must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors. Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require us and the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the tables below) of Total, Tier 1 and common equity Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), and of Tier 1 capital to average assets (as defined). For Synchrony Financial to be a well-capitalized savings and loan holding company, the Bank must be well-capitalized and Synchrony Financial must not be subject to any written agreement, order, capital directive, or prompt corrective action directive issued by the Federal Reserve Board to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. In March 2020 the joint federal bank regulatory agencies issued an interim final rule that allows banking organizations that implemented CECL in 2020 to mitigate the effects of the CECL accounting standard in their regulatory capital for two years. The Company has elected to adopt the option provided by the interim final rule, which will largely delay the effects of CECL on its regulatory capital through the end of 2021, after which the effects will be phased-in over a three-year period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024, collectively the “CECL regulatory capital transition adjustment”. See Note 10. Regulatory and Capital Adequacy to our 2020 annual consolidated financial statements in our 2020 Form 10-K, for additional information. At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Synchrony Financial met all applicable requirements to be deemed well-capitalized pursuant to Federal Reserve Board regulations. At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Bank also met all applicable requirements to be deemed well-capitalized pursuant to OCC regulations and for purposes of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. There are no conditions or events subsequent to June 30, 2021 that management believes have changed the Company's or the Bank’s capital category. The actual capital amounts, ratios and the applicable required minimums of the Company and the Bank are as follows: Synchrony Financial At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) Actual Minimum for capital Amount Ratio (a) Amount Ratio (b) Total risk-based capital $ 15,710 20.1 % $ 6,262 8.0 % Tier 1 risk-based capital $ 14,671 18.7 % $ 4,697 6.0 % Tier 1 leverage $ 14,671 15.6 % $ 3,752 4.0 % Common equity Tier 1 Capital $ 13,937 17.8 % $ 3,523 4.5 % At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Actual Minimum for capital Amount Ratio (a) Amount Ratio (b) Total risk-based capital $ 14,604 18.1 % $ 6,445 8.0 % Tier 1 risk-based capital $ 13,525 16.8 % $ 4,834 6.0 % Tier 1 leverage $ 13,525 14.0 % $ 3,869 4.0 % Common equity Tier 1 Capital $ 12,791 15.9 % $ 3,625 4.5 % Synchrony Bank At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) Actual Minimum for capital Minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions Amount Ratio (a) Amount Ratio (b) Amount Ratio Total risk-based capital $ 14,460 20.6 % $ 5,624 8.0 % $ 7,031 10.0 % Tier 1 risk-based capital $ 13,526 19.2 % $ 4,218 6.0 % $ 5,624 8.0 % Tier 1 leverage $ 13,526 16.0 % $ 3,381 4.0 % $ 4,227 5.0 % Common equity Tier I capital $ 13,526 19.2 % $ 3,164 4.5 % $ 4,570 6.5 % At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Actual Minimum for capital Minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions Amount Ratio (a) Amount Ratio (b) Amount Ratio Total risk-based capital $ 12,784 17.8 % $ 5,747 8.0 % $ 7,184 10.0 % Tier 1 risk-based capital $ 11,821 16.5 % $ 4,310 6.0 % $ 5,747 8.0 % Tier 1 leverage $ 11,821 13.6 % $ 3,484 4.0 % $ 4,356 5.0 % Common equity Tier I capital $ 11,821 16.5 % $ 3,233 4.5 % $ 4,669 6.5 % _______________________ (a) Capital ratios are calculated based on the Basel III Standardized Approach rules. Capital amounts and ratios at June 30, 2021 and at December 31, 2020 in the above tables reflect the application of the CECL regulatory capital transition adjustment. (b) At June 30, 2021 and at December 31, 2020, Synchrony Financial and the Bank also must maintain a capital conservation buffer of common equity Tier 1 capital in excess of minimum risk-based capital ratios by at least 2.5 percentage points to avoid limits on capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers and similar employees.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing earnings available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share reflects the assumed conversion of all dilutive securities. The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share: Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, (in millions, except per share data) 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net earnings $ 1,242 $ 48 $ 2,267 $ 334 Preferred stock dividends (10) (11) $ (21) $ (22) Net earnings available to common stockholders $ 1,232 $ 37 $ 2,246 $ 312 Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic 577.2 583.7 580.2 $ 594.3 Effect of dilutive securities 4.5 0.7 4.4 $ 1.6 Weighted average common shares outstanding, dilutive 581.7 584.4 $ 584.6 $ 595.9 Earnings per basic common share $ 2.13 $ 0.06 $ 3.87 $ 0.52 Earnings per diluted common share $ 2.12 $ 0.06 $ 3.84 $ 0.52 We have issued certain stock-based awards under the Synchrony Financial 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan. A total of 1 million shares and 11 million shares for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and 1 million and 8 million shares for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to these awards, were considered anti-dilutive and therefore were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	INCOME TAXES Unrecognized Tax Benefits ($ in millions) June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Unrecognized tax benefits, excluding related interest expense and penalties (a) $ 247 $ 268 Portion that, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate (b) $ 168 $ 183 ____________________ (a) Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were not material for all periods presented. (b) Comprised of federal unrecognized tax benefits and state and local unrecognized tax benefits net of the effects of associated U.S. federal income taxes. Excludes amounts attributable to any related valuation allowances resulting from associated increases in deferred tax assets. We establish a liability that represents the difference between a tax position taken (or expected to be taken) on an income tax return and the amount of taxes recognized in our financial statements. The liability associated with the unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted periodically when new information becomes available. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that is reasonably possible to be resolved in the next twelve months is expected to be $70 million, of which $28 million, if recognized, would reduce the Company's tax expense and effective tax rate. In the current year, the Company executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the IRS to participate voluntarily in the IRS Compliance Assurance Process (“CAP”) program for the 2021 tax year, and thus the tax year is under IRS review. The IRS is also examining our 2019 and 2020 tax years, which are our only open years subject to IRS examination. It is reasonably possible that the IRS will complete the examinations of the 2019 and 2020 tax years in the next 12 months. Additionally, we are under examination in various states going back to 2014. We believe that there are no issues or claims that are likely to significantly impact our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. We further believe that we have made adequate provision for all income tax uncertainties that could result from such examinations.

Legal Proceedings and Regulator

Legal Proceedings and Regulatory Matters	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Legal Proceedings and Regulatory Matters	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND REGULATORY MATTERS In the normal course of business, from time to time, we have been named as a defendant in various legal proceedings, including arbitrations, class actions and other litigation, arising in connection with our business activities. Certain of the legal actions include claims for substantial compensatory and/or punitive damages, or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. We are also involved, from time to time, in reviews, investigations and proceedings (both formal and informal) by governmental agencies regarding our business (collectively, “regulatory matters”), which could subject us to significant fines, penalties, obligations to change our business practices or other requirements resulting in increased expenses, diminished income and damage to our reputation. We contest liability and/or the amount of damages as appropriate in each pending matter. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, we establish an accrued liability for legal and regulatory matters when those matters present loss contingencies which are both probable and reasonably estimable. Legal proceedings and regulatory matters are subject to many uncertain factors that generally cannot be predicted with assurance, and we may be exposed to losses in excess of any amounts accrued. For some matters, we are able to determine that an estimated loss, while not probable, is reasonably possible. For other matters, including those that have not yet progressed through discovery and/or where important factual information and legal issues are unresolved, we are unable to make such an estimate. We currently estimate that the reasonably possible losses for legal proceedings and regulatory matters, whether in excess of a related accrued liability or where there is no accrued liability, and for which we are able to estimate a possible loss, are immaterial. This represents management’s estimate of possible loss with respect to these matters and is based on currently available information. This estimate of possible loss does not represent our maximum loss exposure. The legal proceedings and regulatory matters underlying the estimate will change from time to time and actual results may vary significantly from current estimates. Our estimate of reasonably possible losses involves significant judgment, given the varying stages of the proceedings, the existence of numerous yet to be resolved issues, the breadth of the claims (often spanning multiple years), unspecified damages and/or the novelty of the legal issues presented. Based on our current knowledge, we do not believe that we are a party to any pending legal proceeding or regulatory matters that would have a material adverse effect on our condensed consolidated financial condition or liquidity. However, in light of the uncertainties involved in such matters, the ultimate outcome of a particular matter could be material to our operating results for a particular period depending on, among other factors, the size of the loss or liability imposed and the level of our earnings for that period, and could adversely affect our business and reputation. Below is a description of certain of our regulatory matters and legal proceedings. On November 2, 2018, a putative class action lawsuit, Retail Wholesale Department Store Union Local 338 Retirement Fund v. Synchrony Financial, et al. , was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, naming as defendants the Company and two of its officers. The lawsuit asserts violations of the Exchange Act for allegedly making materially misleading statements and/or omitting material information concerning the Company’s underwriting practices and private-label card business, and was filed on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s common stock between October 21, 2016 and November 1, 2018. The complaint seeks an award of unspecified compensatory damages, costs and expenses. On February 5, 2019, the court appointed Stichting Depositary APG Developed Markets Equity Pool as lead plaintiff for the putative class. On April 5, 2019, an amended complaint was filed, asserting a new claim for violations of the Securities Act in connection with statements in the offering materials for the Company’s December 1, 2017 note offering. The Securities Act claims are filed on behalf of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Company bonds in or traceable to the December 1, 2017 note offering between December 1, 2017 and November 1, 2018. The amended complaint names as additional defendants two additional Company officers, the Company’s board of directors, and the underwriters of the December 1, 2017 note offering. The amended complaint is captioned Stichting Depositary APG Developed Markets Equity Pool and Stichting Depositary APG Fixed Income Credit Pool v. Synchrony Financial et al. On March 26, 2020, the District Court recaptioned the case In re Synchrony Financial Securities Litigation and on March 31, 2020, the District Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint with prejudice. On April 20, 2020, plaintiffs filed a notice to appeal the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On February 16, 2021, the Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s dismissal of the Securities Act claims and all of the claims under the Exchange Act with the exception of a claim relating to a single statement on January 19, 2018 regarding whether Synchrony was receiving pushback on credit from its retail partners. On January 28, 2019, a purported shareholder derivative action, Gilbert v. Keane, et al. , was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut against the Company as a nominal defendant, and certain of the Company’s officers and directors. The lawsuit alleges breach of fiduciary duty claims based on the allegations raised by the plaintiff in the Stichting Depositar APG class action, unjust enrichment, waste of corporate assets, and that the defendants made materially misleading statements and/or omitted material information in violation of the Exchange Act. The complaint seeks a declaration that the defendants breached and/or aided and abetted the breach of their fiduciary duties to the Company, unspecified monetary damages with interest, restitution, a direction that the defendants take all necessary actions to reform and improve corporate governance and internal procedures, and attorneys’ and experts’ fees. On March 11, 2019, a second purported shareholder derivative action, Aldridge v. Keane, et al. , was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The allegations in the Aldridge complaint are substantially similar to those in the Gilbert complaint. On March 26, 2020, the District Court recaptioned the Gilbert and Aldridge cases as In re Synchrony Financial Derivative Litigation. On April 30, 2014 Belton et al. v. GE Capital Consumer Lending

Basis of Presentation and Sum_2

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates based on assumptions about current, and for some estimates, future, economic and market conditions (for example, unemployment, housing, interest rates and market liquidity) which affect reported amounts and related disclosures in our condensed consolidated financial statements. Although our current estimates contemplate current conditions and how we expect them to change in the future, as appropriate, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be different than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially affect our results of operations and financial position. Among other effects, such changes could result in incremental losses on loan receivables, future impairments of debt securities, goodwill and intangible assets, increases in reserves for contingencies, establishment of valuation allowances on deferred tax assets and increases in our tax liabilities. We primarily conduct our operations within the United States and Canada. Substantially all of our revenues are from U.S. customers. The operating activities conducted by our non-U.S. affiliates use the local currency as their functional currency. The effects of translating the financial statements of these non-U.S. affiliates to U.S. dollars are included in equity. Asset and liability accounts are translated at period-end exchange rates, while revenues and expenses are translated at average rates for the respective periods. Consolidated Basis of Presentation The Company’s financial statements have been prepared on a consolidated basis. Under this basis of presentation, our financial statements consolidate all of our subsidiaries – i.e., entities in which we have a controlling financial interest, most often because we hold a majority voting interest. To determine if we hold a controlling financial interest in an entity, we first evaluate if we are required to apply the variable interest entity (“VIE”) model to the entity, otherwise the entity is evaluated under the voting interest model. Where we hold current or potential rights that give us the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance (“power”) combined with a variable interest that gives us the right to receive potentially significant benefits or the obligation to absorb potentially significant losses (“significant economics”), we have a controlling financial interest in that VIE. Rights held by others to remove the party with power over the VIE are not considered unless one party can exercise those rights unilaterally. We consolidate certain securitization entities under the VIE model because we have both power and significant economics. See Note 5. Variable Interest Entities .
Interim Period Presentation	Interim Period PresentationThe condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto are unaudited. These statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) that we considered necessary to present a fair statement of our results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The results reported in these condensed consolidated financial statements should not be considered as necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2020 annual consolidated financial statements and the related notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (our "2020 Form 10-K").

Debt Securities (Tables)

Debt Securities (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities Reconciliation	Our debt securities consist of the following: June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Gross Gross Gross Gross Amortized unrealized unrealized Estimated Amortized unrealized unrealized Estimated ($ in millions) cost gains losses fair value cost gains losses fair value U.S. government and federal agency $ 2,531 $ 1 $ (1) $ 2,531 $ 3,926 $ 1 $ — $ 3,927 State and municipal 37 — (2) 35 40 — (1) 39 Residential mortgage-backed (a) 696 20 (2) 714 817 25 — 842 Asset-backed (b) 2,433 6 — 2,439 2,652 9 — 2,661 Other 8 1 — 9 — — — — Total $ 5,705 $ 28 $ (5) $ 5,728 $ 7,435 $ 35 $ (1) $ 7,469 _______________________ (a) All of our residential mortgage-backed securities have been issued by government-sponsored entities and are collateralized by U.S. mortgages. At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $168 million and $229 million of residential mortgage-backed securities, respectively, are pledged by the Bank as collateral to the Federal Reserve to secure Federal Reserve Discount Window advances. (b) Our asset-backed securities are collateralized by credit card and auto loans.
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Loss Position, Fair Value	The following table presents the estimated fair values and gross unrealized losses of our available-for-sale debt securities: In loss position for Less than 12 months 12 months or more Gross Gross Estimated unrealized Estimated unrealized ($ in millions) fair value losses fair value losses At June 30, 2021 U.S. government and federal agency $ 360 $ (1) $ — $ — State and municipal 4 — 20 (2) Residential mortgage-backed 126 (2) — — Asset-backed 499 — — — Other — — — — Total $ 989 $ (3) $ 20 $ (2) At December 31, 2020 U.S. government and federal agency $ — $ — $ — $ — State and municipal 3 — 21 (1) Residential mortgage-backed 6 — — — Asset-backed 242 — — — Total $ 251 $ — $ 21 $ (1)
Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date	Contractual Maturities of Investments in Available-for-Sale Debt Securities Amortized Estimated Weighted At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) cost fair value Average yield (a) Due Within one year $ 3,229 $ 3,232 0.3 % After one year through five years $ 1,739 $ 1,742 0.3 % After five years through ten years $ 244 $ 253 2.1 % After ten years $ 493 $ 501 1.7 % _____________________ (a) Weighted average yield is calculated based on the amortized cost of each security. In calculating yield, no adjustment has been made with respect to any tax-exempt obligations.

Loan Receivables and Allowanc_2

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Receivables [Abstract]
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable	($ in millions) June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Credit cards $ 74,429 $ 78,455 Consumer installment loans 2,507 2,125 Commercial credit products 1,379 1,250 Other 59 37 Total loan receivables, before allowance for credit losses (a)(b) $ 78,374 $ 81,867 _______________________ (a) Total loan receivables include $22.4 billion and $25.4 billion of restricted loans of consolidated securitization entities at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. See Note 5. Variable Interest Entities for further information on these restricted loans. (b) At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, loan receivables included deferred costs, net of deferred income, of $168 million and $153 million, respectively.
Allowance for Credit Losses on Financing Receivables	Allowance for Credit Losses ($ in millions) Balance at April 1, 2021 Provision charged to operations Gross charge-offs Recoveries Balance at Credit cards $ 9,735 $ (163) $ (881) $ 213 $ 8,904 Consumer installment loans 100 (26) (12) 5 67 Commercial credit products 64 (5) (10) 1 50 Other 2 — — — 2 Total $ 9,901 $ (194) $ (903) $ 219 $ 9,023 ($ in millions) Balance at April 1, 2020 Provision charged to operations Gross charge-offs Recoveries Balance at Credit cards $ 9,029 $ 1,633 $ (1,265) $ 240 $ 9,637 Consumer installment loans 83 28 (11) 3 103 Commercial credit products 62 12 (15) 2 61 Other 1 — — — 1 Total $ 9,175 $ 1,673 $ (1,291) $ 245 $ 9,802 ($ in millions) Balance at January 1, 2021 Provision charged to operations Gross charge-offs Recoveries Other Balance at Credit cards $ 10,076 $ 178 $ (1,782) $ 432 $ — $ 8,904 Consumer installment loans 127 (44) (27) 10 1 67 Commercial credit products 61 5 (19) 3 — 50 Other 1 1 — — — 2 Total $ 10,265 $ 140 $ (1,828) $ 445 $ 1 $ 9,023 ($ in millions) Balance at January 1, 2020 Impact of ASU 2016-13 Adoption Post-Adoption Balance at January 1, 2020 Provision charged to operations Gross charge-offs Recoveries Balance at Credit cards $ 5,506 $ 2,989 $ 8,495 $ 3,268 $ (2,660) $ 534 $ 9,637 Consumer installment loans 46 26 72 52 (27) 6 103 Commercial credit products 49 6 55 30 (29) 5 61 Other 1 — 1 — — — 1 Total $ 5,602 $ 3,021 $ 8,623 $ 3,350 $ (2,716) $ 545 $ 9,802
Past Due Financing Receivables	Delinquent and Non-accrual Loans At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) 30-89 days delinquent 90 or more days delinquent Total past due 90 or more days delinquent and accruing Total non-accruing Credit cards $ 834 $ 773 $ 1,607 $ 773 $ — Consumer installment loans 21 2 23 — 2 Commercial credit products 14 9 23 9 — Total delinquent loans $ 869 $ 784 $ 1,653 $ 782 $ 2 Percentage of total loan receivables 1.1 % 1.0 % 2.1 % 1.0 % — % At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) 30-89 days delinquent 90 or more days delinquent Total past due 90 or more days delinquent and accruing Total non-accruing Credit cards $ 1,325 $ 1,128 $ 2,453 $ 1,128 $ — Consumer installment loans 26 5 31 — 5 Commercial credit products 20 10 30 10 — Total delinquent loans $ 1,371 $ 1,143 $ 2,514 $ 1,138 $ 5 Percentage of total loan receivables 1.7 % 1.4 % 3.1 % 1.4 % — %
Troubled Debt Restructurings on Financing Receivables	The following table provides information on our TDR loan modifications during the periods presented: Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, ($ in millions) 2021 2020 2021 2020 Credit cards $ 154 $ 127 $ 415 $ 352 Consumer installment loans — — — — Commercial credit products — — 1 1 Total $ 154 $ 127 $ 416 $ 353
Impaired Financing Receivables	The following table provides information about loans classified as TDRs and specific reserves. We do not evaluate credit card loans on an individual basis but instead estimate an allowance for credit losses on a collective basis. At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) Total recorded Related allowance Net recorded investment Unpaid principal balance Credit cards $ 1,230 $ (556) $ 674 $ 1,082 Consumer installment loans — — — — Commercial credit products 4 (2) 2 4 Total $ 1,234 $ (558) $ 676 $ 1,086 At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Total recorded Related allowance Net recorded investment Unpaid principal balance Credit cards $ 1,238 $ (561) $ 677 $ 1,084 Consumer installment loans — — — — Commercial credit products 4 (2) 2 4 Total $ 1,242 $ (563) $ 679 $ 1,088 Three months ended June 30, 2021 2020 ($ in millions) Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms Average recorded investment Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms Average recorded investment Credit cards $ 8 $ 77 $ 1,270 $ 9 $ 67 $ 1,133 Consumer installment loans — — — — — — Commercial credit products — — 4 — — 3 Total $ 8 $ 77 $ 1,274 $ 9 $ 67 $ 1,136 Six months ended June 30, 2021 2020 ($ in millions) Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms Average recorded investment Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms Average recorded investment Credit cards $ 19 $ 156 $ 1,259 $ 21 $ 139 $ 1,137 Consumer installment loans — — — — — — Commercial credit products — — 4 — — 3 Total $ 19 $ 156 $ 1,263 $ 21 $ 139 $ 1,140
Troubled Debt Restructurings on Financing Receivables, Subsequent Default	The following table presents the type, number and amount of loans accounted for as TDRs that enrolled in a modification plan within the previous 12 months from the applicable balance sheet date and experienced a payment default and charged-off during the periods presented. Three months ended June 30, 2021 2020 ($ in millions) Accounts defaulted Loans defaulted Accounts defaulted Loans defaulted Credit cards 21,440 $ 60 15,689 $ 40 Consumer installment loans — — — — Commercial credit products 44 — 54 — Total 21,484 $ 60 15,743 $ 40 Six months ended June 30, 2021 2020 ($ in millions) Accounts defaulted Loans defaulted Accounts defaulted Loans defaulted Credit cards 35,366 $ 99 31,914 $ 80 Consumer installment loans — — — — Commercial credit products 76 — 76 — Total 35,442 $ 99 31,990 $ 80
Financing Receivable Credit Quality Indicators	The following table provides the most recent VantageScore scores available for our customers at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, as a percentage of each class of loan receivable. For comparability purposes and to provide the best illustration of how the credit risk inherent in our loan portfolios has changed over time, the credit quality information at June 30, 2020 has also been presented to show applicable VantageScore score categories. The table below excludes 0.4%, 0.3% and 0.3% of our total loan receivables balance at each of June 30, 2021, December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively, which represents those customer accounts for which a VantageScore score is not available. June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 June 30, 2020 651 or 591 to 590 or 651 or 591 to 590 or 651 or 591 to 590 or higher 650 less higher 650 less higher 650 less Credit cards 80 % 16 % 4 % 77 % 17 % 6 % 73 % 20 % 7 % Consumer installment loans 81 % 16 % 3 % 78 % 18 % 4 % 77 % 18 % 5 % Commercial credit products 93 % 4 % 3 % 92 % 5 % 3 % 91 % 5 % 4 %
Interest Income and Interest Expense Disclosure	The following table provides additional information about our interest and fees on loans, including merchant discounts, from our loan receivables, including held for sale: Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, ($ in millions) 2021 2020 2021 2020 Credit cards (a) $ 3,484 $ 3,740 $ 7,141 $ 8,012 Consumer installment loans 59 37 112 72 Commercial credit products 23 30 44 63 Other 1 1 2 1 Total $ 3,567 $ 3,808 $ 7,299 $ 8,148 _______________________

Variable Interest Entities (Tab

Variable Interest Entities (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Schedule of Variable Interest Entities	The table below summarizes the assets and liabilities of our consolidated securitization VIEs described above: ($ in millions) June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Assets Loan receivables, net (a) $ 20,169 $ 22,683 Other assets (b) 374 52 Total $ 20,543 $ 22,735 Liabilities Borrowings $ 6,987 $ 7,810 Other liabilities 17 23 Total $ 7,004 $ 7,833 _______________________ (a) Includes $2.2 billion and $2.7 billion of related allowance for credit losses resulting in gross restricted loans of $22.4 billion and $25.4 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. (b) Includes $371 million and $48 million of segregated funds held by the VIEs at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, which are classified as restricted cash and equivalents and included as a component of other assets in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

Intangible Assets (Tables)

Intangible Assets (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Gross carrying amount Accumulated amortization Net Gross carrying amount Accumulated amortization Net Customer-related $ 1,791 $ (1,150) $ 641 $ 1,734 $ (1,081) $ 653 Capitalized software and other 1,120 (663) 457 1,043 (571) 472 Total $ 2,911 $ (1,813) $ 1,098 $ 2,777 $ (1,652) $ 1,125

Deposits (Tables)

Deposits (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Deposits [Abstract]
Schedule of Deposit Liabilities	June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Amount Average rate (a) Amount Average rate (a) Interest-bearing deposits $ 59,500 1.0 % $ 62,469 1.7 % Non-interest-bearing deposits 341 — 313 — Total deposits $ 59,841 $ 62,782 ____________________ (a) Based on interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 and average deposits balances.
Schedule of Maturities of Deposit Liabilities	At June 30, 2021, our interest-bearing time deposits maturing for the remainder of 2021 and over the next four years and thereafter were as follows: ($ in millions) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Deposits $ 8,131 $ 12,185 $ 2,248 $ 2,377 $ 662 $ 302

Borrowings (Tables)

Borrowings (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Debt	June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Maturity date Interest Rate Weighted average interest rate Outstanding Amount (a) Outstanding Amount (a) Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities: Fixed securitized borrowings 2021 - 2023 2.34% - 3.87% 2.96 % $ 4,187 $ 5,510 Floating securitized borrowings 2021 - 2023 0.71% - 0.98% 0.80 % 2,800 2,300 Total borrowings of consolidated securitization entities 2.10 % 6,987 7,810 Senior unsecured notes: Synchrony Financial senior unsecured notes: Fixed senior unsecured notes 2022 - 2029 2.80% - 5.15% 4.13 % 5,722 6,468 Synchrony Bank senior unsecured notes: Fixed senior unsecured notes 2022 3.00% 3.00 % 748 1,497 Total senior unsecured notes 4.00 % 6,470 7,965 Total borrowings $ 13,457 $ 15,775 ___________________ (a) The amounts presented above for outstanding borrowings include unamortized debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs.
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	The following table summarizes the maturities of the principal amount of our borrowings of consolidated securitization entities and senior unsecured notes for the remainder of 2021 and over the next four years and thereafter: ($ in millions) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Thereafter Borrowings $ 1,600 $ 4,733 $ 2,157 $ 1,850 $ 1,000 $ 2,150

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis	The following tables present our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Recurring Fair Value Measurements At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (a) Assets Debt securities U.S. government and federal agency $ — $ 2,531 $ — $ 2,531 State and municipal — — 35 35 Residential mortgage-backed — 714 — 714 Asset-backed — 2,439 — 2,439 Other — — 9 9 Other assets (b) 16 — 9 25 Total $ 16 $ 5,684 $ 53 $ 5,753 At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Assets Debt securities U.S. government and federal agency $ — $ 3,927 $ — $ 3,927 State and municipal — — 39 39 Residential mortgage-backed — 842 — 842 Asset-backed — 2,661 — 2,661 Other assets (b) 16 — 14 30 Total $ 16 $ 7,430 $ 53 $ 7,499 Liabilities Contingent consideration — — 11 11 Total $ — $ — $ 11 $ 11 _______________________ (a) For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, there were no fair value measurements transferred between levels. (b) Other assets primarily relate to equity investments measured at fair value.
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping	Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value Carrying Corresponding fair value amount At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Financial Assets Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value: Cash and equivalents (a) $ 11,117 $ 11,117 $ 11,117 $ — $ — Other assets (a)(b) $ 425 $ 425 $ 425 $ — $ — Financial assets carried at other than fair value: Loan receivables, net (c) $ 69,351 $ 82,082 $ — $ — $ 82,082 Loan receivables held for sale (c) $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — Financial Liabilities Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value: Deposits $ 59,841 $ 60,266 $ — $ 60,266 $ — Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities $ 6,987 $ 7,095 $ — $ 4,295 $ 2,800 Senior unsecured notes $ 6,470 $ 7,105 $ — $ 7,105 $ — Carrying Corresponding fair value amount At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Financial Assets Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value: Cash and equivalents (a) $ 11,524 $ 11,524 $ 11,524 $ — $ — Other assets (a)(b) $ 81 $ 81 $ 81 $ — $ — Financial assets carried at other than fair value: Loan receivables, net (c) $ 71,602 $ 85,234 $ — $ — $ 85,234 Loan receivables held for sale (c) $ 5 $ 5 $ — $ — $ 5 Financial Liabilities Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value: Deposits $ 62,782 $ 63,382 $ — $ 63,382 $ — Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities $ 7,810 $ 7,977 $ — $ 5,680 $ 2,297 Senior unsecured notes $ 7,965 $ 8,704 $ — $ 8,704 $ — _______________________ (a) For cash and equivalents and restricted cash and equivalents, carrying value approximates fair value due to the liquid nature and short maturity of these instruments. Cash equivalents classified as Level 2 represent U.S. Government and Federal Agency debt securities with original maturities of three months or less or acquired within three months or less of their maturity. (b) This balance relates to restricted cash and equivalents, which is included in other assets.

Regulatory and Capital Adequa_2

Regulatory and Capital Adequacy (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Banking Regulation, Risk-Based Information [Abstract]
Schedule of Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations	The actual capital amounts, ratios and the applicable required minimums of the Company and the Bank are as follows: Synchrony Financial At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) Actual Minimum for capital Amount Ratio (a) Amount Ratio (b) Total risk-based capital $ 15,710 20.1 % $ 6,262 8.0 % Tier 1 risk-based capital $ 14,671 18.7 % $ 4,697 6.0 % Tier 1 leverage $ 14,671 15.6 % $ 3,752 4.0 % Common equity Tier 1 Capital $ 13,937 17.8 % $ 3,523 4.5 % At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Actual Minimum for capital Amount Ratio (a) Amount Ratio (b) Total risk-based capital $ 14,604 18.1 % $ 6,445 8.0 % Tier 1 risk-based capital $ 13,525 16.8 % $ 4,834 6.0 % Tier 1 leverage $ 13,525 14.0 % $ 3,869 4.0 % Common equity Tier 1 Capital $ 12,791 15.9 % $ 3,625 4.5 % Synchrony Bank At June 30, 2021 ($ in millions) Actual Minimum for capital Minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions Amount Ratio (a) Amount Ratio (b) Amount Ratio Total risk-based capital $ 14,460 20.6 % $ 5,624 8.0 % $ 7,031 10.0 % Tier 1 risk-based capital $ 13,526 19.2 % $ 4,218 6.0 % $ 5,624 8.0 % Tier 1 leverage $ 13,526 16.0 % $ 3,381 4.0 % $ 4,227 5.0 % Common equity Tier I capital $ 13,526 19.2 % $ 3,164 4.5 % $ 4,570 6.5 % At December 31, 2020 ($ in millions) Actual Minimum for capital Minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions Amount Ratio (a) Amount Ratio (b) Amount Ratio Total risk-based capital $ 12,784 17.8 % $ 5,747 8.0 % $ 7,184 10.0 % Tier 1 risk-based capital $ 11,821 16.5 % $ 4,310 6.0 % $ 5,747 8.0 % Tier 1 leverage $ 11,821 13.6 % $ 3,484 4.0 % $ 4,356 5.0 % Common equity Tier I capital $ 11,821 16.5 % $ 3,233 4.5 % $ 4,669 6.5 % _______________________ (a) Capital ratios are calculated based on the Basel III Standardized Approach rules. Capital amounts and ratios at June 30, 2021 and at December 31, 2020 in the above tables reflect the application of the CECL regulatory capital transition adjustment. (b) At June 30, 2021 and at December 31, 2020, Synchrony Financial and the Bank also must maintain a capital conservation buffer of common equity Tier 1 capital in excess of minimum risk-based capital ratios by at least 2.5 percentage points to avoid limits on capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers and similar employees.

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share: Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, (in millions, except per share data) 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net earnings $ 1,242 $ 48 $ 2,267 $ 334 Preferred stock dividends (10) (11) $ (21) $ (22) Net earnings available to common stockholders $ 1,232 $ 37 $ 2,246 $ 312 Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic 577.2 583.7 580.2 $ 594.3 Effect of dilutive securities 4.5 0.7 4.4 $ 1.6 Weighted average common shares outstanding, dilutive 581.7 584.4 $ 584.6 $ 595.9 Earnings per basic common share $ 2.13 $ 0.06 $ 3.87 $ 0.52 Earnings per diluted common share $ 2.12 $ 0.06 $ 3.84 $ 0.52

Incomes Taxes (Tables)

Incomes Taxes (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	($ in millions) June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Unrecognized tax benefits, excluding related interest expense and penalties (a) $ 247 $ 268 Portion that, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate (b) $ 168 $ 183 ____________________ (a) Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were not material for all periods presented. (b) Comprised of federal unrecognized tax benefits and state and local unrecognized tax benefits net of the effects of associated U.S. federal income taxes. Excludes amounts attributable to any related valuation allowances resulting from associated increases in deferred tax assets.

Debt Securities - Schedule of A

Debt Securities - Schedule of Available for Sale Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Total
Amortized cost		$ 5,705	$ 7,435
Gross unrealized gains		28	35
Gross unrealized losses		(5)	(1)
Estimated fair value		5,728	7,469
U.S. government and federal agency
Debt
Amortized cost		2,531	3,926
Gross unrealized gains		1	1
Gross unrealized losses		(1)	0
Estimated fair value		2,531	3,927
State and municipal
Debt
Amortized cost		37	40
Gross unrealized gains		0	0
Gross unrealized losses		(2)	(1)
Estimated fair value		35	39
Residential mortgage-backed
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities pledged as collateral to the Federal Reserve		168	229
Debt
Amortized cost	[1]	696	817
Gross unrealized gains	[1]	20	25
Gross unrealized losses	[1]	(2)	0
Estimated fair value	[1]	714	842
Asset-backed
Debt
Amortized cost	[2]	2,433	2,652
Gross unrealized gains	[2]	6	9
Gross unrealized losses	[2]	0	0
Estimated fair value	[2]	2,439	2,661
Other Debt Obligations
Debt
Amortized cost		8	0
Gross unrealized gains		1	0
Gross unrealized losses		0	0
Estimated fair value		$ 9	$ 0
[1]	All of our residential mortgage-backed securities have been issued by government-sponsored entities and are collateralized by U.S. mortgages. At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $168 million and $229 million of residential mortgage-backed securities, respectively, are pledged by the Bank as collateral to the Federal Reserve to secure Federal Reserve Discount Window advances.
[2]	Our asset-backed securities are collateralized by credit card and auto loans.

Debt Securities - Continuous Un

Debt Securities - Continuous Unrealized Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Estimated fair value
Less than 12 months	$ 989	$ 251
12 months or more	20	21
Gross unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(3)	0
12 months or more	(2)	(1)
U.S. government and federal agency
Estimated fair value
Less than 12 months	360	0
12 months or more	0	0
Gross unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(1)	0
12 months or more	0	0
State and municipal
Estimated fair value
Less than 12 months	4	3
12 months or more	20	21
Gross unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	0
12 months or more	(2)	(1)
Residential mortgage-backed
Estimated fair value
Less than 12 months	126	6
12 months or more	0	0
Gross unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(2)	0
12 months or more	0	0
Asset-backed
Estimated fair value
Less than 12 months	499	242
12 months or more	0	0
Gross unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	0
12 months or more	0	$ 0
Other Debt Obligations
Estimated fair value
Less than 12 months	0
12 months or more	0
Gross unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0
12 months or more	$ 0

Debt Securities - Contractual M

Debt Securities - Contractual Maturities (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Amortized Cost
Within one year	$ 3,229
After one year through five years	1,739
After five years through ten years	244
After ten years	493
Estimated Fair Value
Within one year	3,232
After one year through five years	1,742
After five years through ten years	253
After ten years	$ 501
Weighted Average Yield
Within one year	0.30%	[1]
After one year through five years	0.30%	[1]
After five years through ten years	2.10%	[1]
After ten years	1.70%	[1]
[1]	Weighted average yield is calculated based on the amortized cost of each security. In calculating yield, no adjustment has been made with respect to any tax-exempt obligations.

Loan Receivables and Allowanc_3

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses - Loan Receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)	[1],[2]	$ 78,374	$ 81,867
Loan Receivable, Deferred Income		168	153
Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		74,429	78,455
Consumer installment loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		2,507	2,125
Commercial credit products
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		1,379	1,250
Other
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		59	37
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		$ 22,380	$ 25,395
[1]	Total loan receivables include $22.4 billion and $25.4 billion of restricted loans of consolidated securitization entities at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. See Note 5. Variable Interest Entities for further information on these restricted loans.
[2]	At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, loan receivables included deferred costs, net of deferred income, of $168 million and $153 million, respectively.

Loan Receivables and Allowanc_4

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses - Allowance for Credit Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 9,901	$ 9,175	$ 10,265	$ 8,623
Provision for credit losses	(194)	1,673	140	3,350
Gross charge-offs	(903)	(1,291)	(1,828)	(2,716)
Recoveries	219	245	445	545
Other			1
Ending Balance	9,023	9,802	9,023	9,802
Impact of ASU 2016-13 Adoption					$ 3,021
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Period Increase (Decrease)			1,200
Allowance for loan losses					5,602
Credit cards
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	9,735	9,029	10,076	8,495
Provision for credit losses	(163)	1,633	178	3,268
Gross charge-offs	(881)	(1,265)	(1,782)	(2,660)
Recoveries	213	240	432	534
Other			0
Ending Balance	8,904	9,637	8,904	9,637
Impact of ASU 2016-13 Adoption					2,989
Allowance for loan losses					5,506
Consumer installment loans
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	100	83	127	72
Provision for credit losses	(26)	28	(44)	52
Gross charge-offs	(12)	(11)	(27)	(27)
Recoveries	5	3	10	6
Other			1
Ending Balance	67	103	67	103
Impact of ASU 2016-13 Adoption					26
Allowance for loan losses					46
Commercial credit products
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	64	62	61	55
Provision for credit losses	(5)	12	5	30
Gross charge-offs	(10)	(15)	(19)	(29)
Recoveries	1	2	3	5
Other			0
Ending Balance	50	61	50	61
Impact of ASU 2016-13 Adoption					6
Allowance for loan losses					49
Other
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	2	1	1	1
Provision for credit losses	0	0	1	0
Gross charge-offs	0	0	0	0
Recoveries	0	0	0	0
Other			0
Ending Balance	$ 2	$ 1	$ 2	$ 1
Impact of ASU 2016-13 Adoption					0
Allowance for loan losses					$ 1

Loan Receivables and Allowanc_5

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses - Delinquent and Non Accrual Status (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)	[1],[2]	$ 78,374	$ 81,867
90 or more days delinquent and accruing		782	1,138
Total non-accruing		$ 2	$ 5
Loans and Leases Receivable, Maximum Maturity Period for Loans in Permanent Modification Program		60 months
Financing Receivable, Percentage of Total Loan Receivables
Percentage of total loan receivables, 30-89 days delinquent		1.10%	1.70%
Percentage of total loan receivables, 90 or more days delinquent		1.00%	1.40%
Percentage of total loan receivables, Past due		2.10%	3.10%
Percentage of total loan receivables, 90 or more days delinquent and accruing		1.00%	1.40%
Percentage of total loan receivables, Total non-accruing		0.00%	0.00%
Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		$ 74,429	$ 78,455
90 or more days delinquent and accruing		773	1,128
Total non-accruing		0	0
Consumer installment loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		2,507	2,125
90 or more days delinquent and accruing		0	0
Total non-accruing		2	5
Commercial credit products
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		1,379	1,250
90 or more days delinquent and accruing		9	10
Total non-accruing		0	0
Other
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		59	37
Financing Receivables, 30 to 89 Days Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		869	1,371
Financing Receivables, 30 to 89 Days Past Due | Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		834	1,325
Financing Receivables, 30 to 89 Days Past Due | Consumer installment loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		21	26
Financing Receivables, 30 to 89 Days Past Due | Commercial credit products
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		14	20
Financial Asset, Equal to or Greater than 90 Days Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		784	1,143
Financial Asset, Equal to or Greater than 90 Days Past Due | Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		773	1,128
Financial Asset, Equal to or Greater than 90 Days Past Due | Consumer installment loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		2	5
Financial Asset, Equal to or Greater than 90 Days Past Due | Commercial credit products
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		9	10
Financial Asset, Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		1,653	2,514
Financial Asset, Past Due | Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		1,607	2,453
Financial Asset, Past Due | Consumer installment loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		23	31
Financial Asset, Past Due | Commercial credit products
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan receivables: (Notes 4 and 5)		$ 23	$ 30
[1]	Total loan receivables include $22.4 billion and $25.4 billion of restricted loans of consolidated securitization entities at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. See Note 5. Variable Interest Entities for further information on these restricted loans.
[2]	At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, loan receivables included deferred costs, net of deferred income, of $168 million and $153 million, respectively.

Loan Receivables and Allowanc_6

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans Entered into a Loan Modification Program (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total loans entered into a modification program	$ 154	$ 127	$ 416	$ 353
Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total loans entered into a modification program	154	127	415	352
Consumer installment loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total loans entered into a modification program	0	0	0	0
Commercial credit products
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total loans entered into a modification program	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1	$ 1

Loan Receivables and Allowanc_7

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses - Classified as TDRs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total recorded investment	$ 1,234	$ 1,242
Related allowance	(558)	(563)
Net recorded investment	676	679
Unpaid principal balance	1,086	1,088
Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total recorded investment	1,230	1,238
Related allowance	(556)	(561)
Net recorded investment	674	677
Unpaid principal balance	1,082	1,084
Consumer installment loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total recorded investment	0	0
Related allowance	0	0
Net recorded investment	0	0
Unpaid principal balance	0	0
Commercial credit products
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total recorded investment	4	4
Related allowance	(2)	(2)
Net recorded investment	2	2
Unpaid principal balance	$ 4	$ 4

Loan Receivables and Allowanc_8

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses - Financial Effects of TDRs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	$ 9,023	$ 9,802	$ 9,023	$ 9,802	$ 9,901	$ 10,265	$ 9,175	$ 8,623
Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired	8	9	19	21
Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms	77	67	156	139
Average recorded investment	1,274	1,136	1,263	1,140
Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	8,904	9,637	8,904	9,637	9,735	10,076	9,029	8,495
Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired	8	9	19	21
Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms	77	67	156	139
Average recorded investment	1,270	1,133	1,259	1,137
Consumer installment loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	67	103	67	103	100	127	83	72
Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired	0	0	0	0
Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms	0	0	0	0
Average recorded investment	0	0	0	0
Commercial credit products
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	50	61	50	61	64	61	62	55
Interest income recognized during period when loans were impaired	0	0	0	0
Interest income that would have been recorded with original terms	0	0	0	0
Average recorded investment	4	3	4	3
Other
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	$ 2	$ 1	$ 2	$ 1	$ 2	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1

Loan Receivables and Allowanc_9

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses - Payment Defaults (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)contract	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)contract	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)contract	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)contract
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts defaulted | contract	21,484	15,743	35,442	31,990
Loans defaulted | $	$ 60	$ 40	$ 99	$ 80
Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts defaulted | contract	21,440	15,689	35,366	31,914
Loans defaulted | $	$ 60	$ 40	$ 99	$ 80
Consumer installment loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts defaulted | contract	0	0	0	0
Loans defaulted | $	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Commercial credit products
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts defaulted | contract	44	54	76	76
Loans defaulted | $	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Loan Receivables and Allowan_10

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses - Credit Quality Indicators (Details)	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicators, Percentage of Loan Receivables with No Vantage Score	0.40%	0.30%	0.30%
Credit cards | Six Hundred and Fifty-One or Higher
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percentage of class of loan receivable	80.00%	77.00%	73.00%
Credit cards | Five Hundred and Ninety-One to Six Hundred and Fifty
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percentage of class of loan receivable	16.00%	17.00%	20.00%
Credit cards | Five Hundred and Ninety or Less
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percentage of class of loan receivable	4.00%	6.00%	7.00%
Consumer installment loans | Six Hundred and Fifty-One or Higher
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percentage of class of loan receivable	81.00%	78.00%	77.00%
Consumer installment loans | Five Hundred and Ninety-One to Six Hundred and Fifty
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percentage of class of loan receivable	16.00%	18.00%	18.00%
Consumer installment loans | Five Hundred and Ninety or Less
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percentage of class of loan receivable	3.00%	4.00%	5.00%
Commercial credit products | Six Hundred and Fifty-One or Higher
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percentage of class of loan receivable	93.00%	92.00%	91.00%
Commercial credit products | Five Hundred and Ninety-One to Six Hundred and Fifty
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percentage of class of loan receivable	4.00%	5.00%	5.00%
Commercial credit products | Five Hundred and Ninety or Less
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percentage of class of loan receivable	3.00%	3.00%	4.00%

Loan Receivables and Allowan_11

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses - Interest Income by Product (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Interest and fees on loans		$ 3,567	$ 3,808	$ 7,299	$ 8,148
Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Interest and fees on loans	[1]	3,484	3,740	7,141	8,012
Financing Receivable, Accrued Interest, Writeoff		296	418	601	895
Consumer installment loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Interest and fees on loans		59	37	112	72
Commercial credit products
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Interest and fees on loans		23	30	44	63
Other
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Interest and fees on loans		$ 1	$ 1	$ 2	$ 1
[1]	Interest income on credit cards that was reversed related to accrued interest receivables written off was $296 million and $418 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $601 million and $895 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively

Loan Receivables and Allowan_12

Loan Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Reasonable and Supportable Forecast Period	12 months
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Reversion Period	6 months
Credit cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unused Commitments to Extend Credit	$ 418	$ 413

Variable Interest Entities - Su

Variable Interest Entities - Summary of Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Loan receivables, net		$ 69,351		$ 71,602
Other assets		3,618		3,145
Total assets		92,017		95,948
Total liabilities		77,820		83,247
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		9,023	$ 9,901	10,265	$ 9,802	$ 9,175	$ 8,623
Allowance for loan losses							$ 5,602
Loan receivable, before allowance for losses	[1],[2]	78,374		81,867
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Loan receivables, net	[3]	20,169		22,683
Other assets	[4]	374		52
Total assets		20,543		22,735
Borrowings	[5]	6,987		7,810
Other liabilities		17		23
Total liabilities		7,004		7,833
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		2,200		2,700
Loan receivable, before allowance for losses		22,380		25,395
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Other Assets [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restricted Cash Equivalents		$ 371		$ 48
[1]	Total loan receivables include $22.4 billion and $25.4 billion of restricted loans of consolidated securitization entities at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. See Note 5. Variable Interest Entities for further information on these restricted loans.
[2]	At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, loan receivables included deferred costs, net of deferred income, of $168 million and $153 million, respectively.
[3]	Includes $2.2 billion and $2.7 billion of related allowance for credit losses resulting in gross restricted loans of $22.4 billion and $25.4 billion at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
[4]	Includes $371 million and $48 million of segregated funds held by the VIEs at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, which are classified as restricted cash and equivalents and included as a component of other assets in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
[5]	The amounts presented above for outstanding borrowings include unamortized debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs.

Variable Interest Entities - Na

Variable Interest Entities - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Allowance for credit losses	$ 9,023	$ 9,802	$ 9,023	$ 9,802	$ 9,901	$ 10,265	$ 9,175	$ 8,623
Allowance for loan losses								$ 5,602
Interest and fees on loans	3,567	3,808	7,299	8,148
Provision for credit losses	(194)	1,673	140	3,350
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Allowance for credit losses	2,200		2,200			2,700
Interest and fees on loans	900	1,200	2,000	2,500
Provision for credit losses	(23)	480	(80)	1,000
Interest on borrowings of consolidated securitization entities	44	$ 59	95	$ 132
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Other Assets [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restricted Cash Equivalents	$ 371		$ 371			$ 48

Intangible Assets - Schedule of

Intangible Assets - Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	$ 2,911	$ 2,777
Accumulated amortization	(1,813)	(1,652)
Net	1,098	1,125
Customer-related
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	1,791	1,734
Accumulated amortization	(1,150)	(1,081)
Net	641	653
Capitalized software and other
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	1,120	1,043
Accumulated amortization	(663)	(571)
Net	$ 457	$ 472

Intangible Assets Narrative (De

Intangible Assets Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired			$ 142
Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired			$ 62	$ 18
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life			5 years	7 years
Selling and Marketing Expense [Member] | Retail Partner Contracts
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	$ 32	$ 33	$ 64	$ 65
Other Expense | Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Excluding Retail Partner Contracts
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	$ 51	$ 49	$ 101	$ 99

Deposits - Schedule of Deposit

Deposits - Schedule of Deposit Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Deposits [Abstract]
Interest-bearing deposits, amount		$ 59,500	$ 62,469
Non-interest-bearing deposits, amount		341	313
Total deposits		$ 59,841	$ 62,782
Average Rate Domestic Deposits	[1]	1.00%	1.70%
[1]	Based on interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 and average deposits balances.

Deposits - Maturity Schedule (D

Deposits - Maturity Schedule (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Maturities of Time Deposits [Abstract]
2021	$ 8,131
2022	12,185
2023	2,248
2024	2,377
2025	662
Thereafter	$ 302

Deposits - Narrative (Details)

Deposits - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Schedule of Deposits [Line Items]
Time Deposits, at or Above FDIC Insurance Limit	$ 5.2	$ 6.5
Demand deposits with no defined maturity	28.4
Deposits, Savings Deposits	26.9
Program Arranger
Schedule of Deposits [Line Items]
Broker network deposit sweeps	$ 5.2

Borrowings - Borrowings Schedul

Borrowings - Borrowings Schedule (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Amount
Total borrowings	[1]	$ 13,457	$ 15,775
Senior unsecured notes
Amount
Unsecured debt	[1]	$ 6,470	7,965
Average rate
Weighted average interest rate		4.00%
Fixed Senior Unsecured Notes | Senior unsecured notes
Amount
Unsecured debt	[1]	$ 5,722	6,468
Average rate
Weighted average interest rate		4.13%
Subsidiaries [Member] | Fixed Senior Unsecured Notes | Senior unsecured notes
Amount
Unsecured debt	[1]	$ 748	1,497
Average rate
Weighted average interest rate		3.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Average rate
Weighted average interest rate		2.10%
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities	[1]	$ 6,987	7,810
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Fixed Securitized Borrowings
Average rate
Weighted average interest rate		2.96%
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities	[1]	$ 4,187	5,510
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Floating Securitized Borrowings
Average rate
Weighted average interest rate		0.80%
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities	[1]	$ 2,800	$ 2,300
Minimum | Fixed Senior Unsecured Notes | Senior unsecured notes
Average rate
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.80%
Minimum | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Fixed Securitized Borrowings
Average rate
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.34%
Minimum | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Floating Securitized Borrowings
Average rate
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		0.71%
Maximum | Fixed Senior Unsecured Notes | Senior unsecured notes
Average rate
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.15%
Maximum | Subsidiaries [Member] | Fixed Senior Unsecured Notes | Senior unsecured notes
Average rate
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.00%
Maximum | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Fixed Securitized Borrowings
Average rate
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.87%
Maximum | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Floating Securitized Borrowings
Average rate
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		0.98%
[1]	The amounts presented above for outstanding borrowings include unamortized debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs.

Borrowings - Borrowings Maturit

Borrowings - Borrowings Maturity Schedule (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2021	$ 1,600
2022	4,733
2023	2,157
2024	1,850
2025	1,000
Thereafter	$ 2,150

Borrowings - Narrative (Details

Borrowings - Narrative (Details) $ in Billions	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Remaining undrawn capacity	$ 4.4
Revolving Credit Facility | Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Undrawn capacity	$ 0.5

Fair Value Measurement - Recurr

Fair Value Measurement - Recurring Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other assets		$ 3,618	$ 3,145
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other assets	[1],[2]	25	30
Total	[1]	5,753	7,499
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	[1]		11
Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	[1]		11
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other assets	[2]	16	16
Total		16	16
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability			0
Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure			0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other assets	[2]	0	0
Total		5,684	7,430
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability			0
Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure			0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other assets	[2]	9	14
Total		53	53
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability			11
Financial and Nonfinancial Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure			11
U.S. government and federal agency
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		2,531	3,927
U.S. government and federal agency | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities	[1]	2,531	3,927
U.S. government and federal agency | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		0	0
U.S. government and federal agency | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		2,531	3,927
U.S. government and federal agency | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		0	0
State and municipal
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		35	39
State and municipal | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities	[1]	35	39
State and municipal | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		0	0
State and municipal | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		0	0
State and municipal | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		35	39
Residential mortgage-backed
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities	[3]	714	842
Residential mortgage-backed | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities	[1]	714	842
Residential mortgage-backed | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		0	0
Residential mortgage-backed | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		714	842
Residential mortgage-backed | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		0	0
Asset-backed
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities	[4]	2,439	2,661
Asset-backed | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities	[1]	2,439	2,661
Asset-backed | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		0	0
Asset-backed | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		2,439	2,661
Asset-backed | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		0	0
Other Debt Obligations
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		9	$ 0
Other Debt Obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		9
Other Debt Obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		0
Other Debt Obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		0
Other Debt Obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt securities		$ 9
[1]	For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, there were no fair value measurements transferred between levels.
[2]	Other assets primarily relate to equity investments measured at fair value.
[3]	All of our residential mortgage-backed securities have been issued by government-sponsored entities and are collateralized by U.S. mortgages. At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $168 million and $229 million of residential mortgage-backed securities, respectively, are pledged by the Bank as collateral to the Federal Reserve to secure Federal Reserve Discount Window advances.
[4]	Our asset-backed securities are collateralized by credit card and auto loans.

Fair Value Measurement - Fair V

Fair Value Measurement - Fair Value Asset and Liabilities Carried at Other than Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	[1]	$ 11,117	$ 11,524
Other assets	[1],[2]	425	81
Loan receivables, net	[3]	82,082	85,234
Loans Held-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure	[3]	0	5
Deposits		60,266	63,382
Carrying Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	[1]	11,117	11,524
Other assets	[1],[2]	425	81
Loan receivables, net	[3]	69,351	71,602
Loans Held-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure	[3]	0	5
Deposits		59,841	62,782
Level 1
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	[1]	11,117	11,524
Other assets	[1],[2]	425	81
Loan receivables, net	[3]	0	0
Loans Held-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure	[3]	0	0
Deposits		0	0
Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	[1]	0	0
Other assets	[1],[2]	0	0
Loan receivables, net	[3]	0	0
Loans Held-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure	[3]	0	0
Deposits		60,266	63,382
Level 3
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	[1]	0	0
Other assets	[1],[2]	0	0
Loan receivables, net	[3]	82,082	85,234
Loans Held-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure	[3]	0	5
Deposits		0	0
Senior Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure		7,105	8,704
Senior Notes | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure		6,470	7,965
Senior Notes | Level 1
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure		0	0
Senior Notes | Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure		7,105	8,704
Senior Notes | Level 3
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure		0	0
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities		7,095	7,977
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities		6,987	7,810
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Level 1
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities		0	0
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities		4,295	5,680
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Level 3
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities		$ 2,800	$ 2,297
[1]	For cash and equivalents and restricted cash and equivalents, carrying value approximates fair value due to the liquid nature and short maturity of these instruments. Cash equivalents classified as Level 2 represent U.S. Government and Federal Agency debt securities with original maturities of three months or less or acquired within three months or less of their maturity.
[2]	This balance relates to restricted cash and equivalents, which is included in other assets.
[3]	Under certain retail partner program agreements, the expected sales proceeds in the event of a sale of their credit card portfolio may be limited to the amounts owed by our customers, which may be less than the fair value indicated above.

Regulatory and Capital Adequa_3

Regulatory and Capital Adequacy (Capital Amounts and Ratios) (Details) - Basel III $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Capital conservation buffer		0.025	0.025
Total risk-based capital
Actual		$ 15,710	$ 14,604
Actual (percent)	[1]	0.201	0.181
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes		$ 6,262	$ 6,445
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes (percent)	[2]	0.080	0.080
Tier 1 risk-based capital
Banking Regulation, Tier One Risk-Based Capital, Actual		$ 14,671	$ 13,525
Actual (percent)	[1]	0.187	0.168
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes		$ 4,697	$ 4,834
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes (percent)	[2]	0.060	0.060
Tier 1 leverage
Banking Regulation, Tier One Leverage Capital, Actual		$ 14,671	$ 13,525
Actual (percent)	[1]	0.156	0.140
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes		$ 3,752	$ 3,869
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes (percent)	[2]	0.040	0.040
Common equity Tier I capital
Common equity, actual		$ 13,937	$ 12,791
Common equity, actual (percent)	[1]	0.178	0.159
Common equity, minimum for capital adequacy purposes		$ 3,523	$ 3,625
Common Equity Tier One Capital Required for Capital Adequacy to Risk Weighted Assets	[2]	0.045	0.045
Synchrony Bank
Total risk-based capital
Actual		$ 14,460	$ 12,784
Actual (percent)	[1]	0.206	0.178
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes		$ 5,624	$ 5,747
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes (percent)	[2]	0.080	0.080
Minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions		$ 7,031	$ 7,184
Minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions (percent)		0.100	0.100
Tier 1 risk-based capital
Banking Regulation, Tier One Risk-Based Capital, Actual		$ 13,526	$ 11,821
Actual (percent)	[1]	0.192	0.165
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes		$ 4,218	$ 4,310
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes (percent)	[2]	0.060	0.060
Minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions		$ 5,624	$ 5,747
Minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions (percent)		0.080	0.080
Tier 1 leverage
Banking Regulation, Tier One Leverage Capital, Actual		$ 13,526	$ 11,821
Actual (percent)	[1]	0.160	0.136
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes		$ 3,381	$ 3,484
Minimum for capital adequacy purposes (percent)	[2]	0.040	0.040
Minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions		$ 4,227	$ 4,356
Minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions (percent)		0.050	0.050
Common equity Tier I capital
Common equity, actual		$ 13,526	$ 11,821
Common equity, actual (percent)	[1]	0.192	0.165
Common equity, minimum for capital adequacy purposes		$ 3,164	$ 3,233
Common Equity Tier One Capital Required for Capital Adequacy to Risk Weighted Assets	[2]	0.045	0.045
Common equity, minimum to be well-capitalized under prompt corrective action provisions		$ 4,570	$ 4,669
Common Equity Tier One Capital Required to be Well Capitalized Risk Weighted Assets		0.065	0.065
[1]	Capital ratios are calculated based on the Basel III Standardized Approach rules. Capital amounts and ratios at June 30, 2021 and at December 31, 2020 in the above tables reflect the application of the CECL regulatory capital transition adjustment.
[2]	At June 30, 2021 and at December 31, 2020, Synchrony Financial and the Bank also must maintain a capital conservation buffer of common equity Tier 1 capital in excess of minimum risk-based capital ratios by at least 2.5 percentage points to avoid limits on capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers and similar employees.

Earnings Per Share - Basic and

Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 1,242	$ 1,025	$ 48	$ 286	$ 2,267	$ 334
Preferred stock dividends	(10)		(11)		(21)	(22)
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$ 1,232		$ 37		$ 2,246	$ 312
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	577.2		583.7		580.2	594.3
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	4.5		0.7		4.4	1.6
Weighted average common shares outstanding, dilutive (in shares)	581.7		584.4		584.6	595.9
Earnings per basic common share (in usd per share)	$ 2.13		$ 0.06		$ 3.87	$ 0.52
Earnings per diluted common share (in usd per share)	$ 2.12		$ 0.06		$ 3.84	$ 0.52

Earnings Per Share - Narrative

Earnings Per Share - Narrative (Details) - shares shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	1	11	1	8

Income Taxes - Unrecognized Tax

Income Taxes - Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefits, excluding related interest expense and penalties	[1]	$ 247	$ 268
Portion that, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate	[2]	168	$ 183
Decrease in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible		70
Decrease in Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate		$ 28
[1]	Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were not material for all periods presented.
[2]	Comprised of federal unrecognized tax benefits and state and local unrecognized tax benefits net of the effects of associated U.S. federal income taxes. Excludes amounts attributable to any related valuation allowances resulting from associated increases in deferred tax assets.