Synchrony Financial is one of the largest consumer financial services companies in the United States, with roughly $6 billion in annual revenue and partnerships with more than 1,600 retailers, healthcare providers, and automotive dealers. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Synchrony issues private-label credit cards and financing programs for major brands including Amazon, PayPal, Lowe's, and Sam's Club. That scale means meaningful supplier spend across many categories.
If you run a certified minority-owned, women-owned, or disability-owned business, Synchrony's supplier diversity program is an active channel worth pursuing. They participate in NMSDC, WBENC, and Disability:IN, and they track spend with certified suppliers as part of their corporate accountability metrics.
What Synchrony buys from external suppliers
Synchrony sources across a wide range of categories. On the technology side, they purchase software development, IT infrastructure, data analytics, cybersecurity services, and cloud solutions. Marketing and communications spend covers advertising, digital marketing, print production, events, and public relations. Professional services include consulting, legal support, staffing, and training. Facilities and operations spend covers maintenance, janitorial, security, and food services at their locations in Stamford, Alpharetta, and other cities.
Financial services companies also buy heavily in compliance and regulatory services, customer experience technology, and document management. If your business operates in any of these categories, there is a real procurement path at Synchrony.
How to register as a supplier
Synchrony manages supplier relationships through their Supplier Diversity portal. To start, search for "Synchrony Financial Supplier Diversity" or navigate to the supplier section of their corporate website at synchrony.com. From there, look for the supplier registration or supplier diversity link.
During registration, you will typically need to provide your company's legal name, business address, federal tax ID (EIN), DUNS or SAM.gov UEI number if you have one, and a description of your core services or products. You will also need to specify your NAICS codes, the commodity categories you serve, your annual revenue, and your employee count.
Diversity certifications go in during registration. Upload your certification letter from NMSDC, WBENC, Disability:IN, or other recognized bodies. If your certification is pending, you can still register and update the record once it is issued.
Be thorough on the category and keyword fields. Procurement teams search the supplier database when they have a need, and incomplete profiles get skipped. Write your capabilities description in plain terms that match what a category manager would type into a search box.
Which certifications Synchrony recognizes
Synchrony participates in three major third-party certification programs:
NMSDC (National Minority Supplier Development Council) certifies businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by someone who is Asian, Black, Hispanic, or Native American. An NMSDC certification from any of the regional councils is accepted. If your business qualifies, this is one of the highest-weight certifications you can bring to Synchrony, because NMSDC-certified suppliers are tracked in their annual supplier diversity spend reporting.
WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council) certifies businesses that are at least 51% women-owned, operated, and controlled. The same principle applies: WBENC certification is tracked for spend reporting and carries significant weight when procurement is comparing two otherwise equivalent bids.
Disability:IN certifies disability-owned business enterprises (DOBE) and service-disabled-veteran-owned businesses (SDVOBE). Synchrony is a corporate member of Disability:IN, which means they have committed to tracking and growing spend with certified suppliers in this category. This is a less crowded certification pool than NMSDC or WBENC, which can work in your favor.
SBA certifications (8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB) are relevant if you are also pursuing government contracting, but for a financial services company like Synchrony, the private-sector certifications from NMSDC, WBENC, and Disability:IN carry more direct weight in procurement decisions.
How certification status affects your chances
Certified diverse suppliers get visibility that uncertified suppliers do not. Synchrony sets supplier diversity spend targets and reports progress publicly. Category managers and procurement leaders are evaluated against those targets, which creates real pull for certified suppliers, particularly when a bid is close.
That said, certification is a qualifier, not a guarantee. You still need to price competitively, meet their vendor risk management requirements, and demonstrate that your company can deliver at their scale. A WBENC certification gets you noticed; your capabilities and references close the deal.
If you are not yet certified, start the process in parallel with your supplier registration. NMSDC certification through a regional affiliate typically takes 60 to 90 days and costs between $350 and $1,250 annually depending on your revenue. WBENC follows a similar timeline and price range. Disability:IN certification timelines vary.
Tips for winning your first contract
Register accurately and completely, then follow up. After submitting your registration, reach out to Synchrony's supplier diversity team directly through the contact information on their corporate website. A brief message introducing your company, the services you offer, and your certification status is appropriate. Do not pitch hard in the first contact. Your goal is to get on the radar of the right category manager.
Attend the events where Synchrony participates. They sponsor and attend NMSDC and WBENC national conferences and regional events. In-person introductions at these events move faster than email because you can demonstrate your capabilities directly and get a referral to the correct internal contact.
Prepare a one-page capability statement before you reach out. It should cover your core services, the clients you have already served, your capacity, and your certifications. Financial services companies have strict vendor risk requirements, so if you have worked with other regulated industries, financial institutions, or Fortune 500 companies, lead with that.
If Synchrony is too large for your first contract, consider going through a tier-1 Synchrony supplier that runs subcontracting programs. NMSDC and WBENC regional councils maintain lists of their corporate members and can connect you with tier-1 buyers who actively seek diverse subcontractors.
Who handles supplier diversity at Synchrony
Within Synchrony, the Supplier Diversity program typically falls under the Chief Procurement Officer or a dedicated Director of Supplier Diversity. This person is responsible for setting spend targets, managing relationships with NMSDC, WBENC, and Disability:IN, and working with category managers to identify opportunities for certified suppliers.
When reaching out, look for the supplier diversity team contact on synchrony.com rather than cold-contacting procurement generalists. A message to the right person shortens the time from registration to your first conversation by months.
Supplier development programs and events
Synchrony participates in NMSDC and WBENC events throughout the year. Check the NMSDC national conference schedule (held annually, typically in fall) and your regional NMSDC affiliate's matchmaking events, where Synchrony category managers sometimes attend as corporate buyers. WBENC's national conference in the spring serves the same function for WBE-certified suppliers.
Disability:IN's annual conference in July includes a corporate expo and matchmaking component. If you hold a DOBE certification, this is the most direct route to a conversation with Synchrony's supplier diversity team in that category.
Some large financial companies also run formal supplier development programs with cohorts, mentorship, and guaranteed contract opportunities for graduates. Check Synchrony's website or ask their supplier diversity team directly whether such a program is currently active. Program availability changes year to year based on budget cycles and internal priorities.
Registration is the first step. Certification is the second. Persistence and the right event relationships close the gap between being in their database and being on their preferred vendor list.
