Synovus Credit Cards
$50, waived first year
None
5x Travel (≈6%)
3x Category of Your Choice (≈3.6%)
1x Everything Else (≈1.2%)
No Foreign Transaction Fee
The Synovus Travel Rewards card earns the highest cash-back rate on travel purchases of any card (6 cents per dollar). In addition, it lets you earn 3.6 cents per dollar on your choice of an additional category. If you are willing to sign up for a bunch of cards to maximize your reward spending, it is a compelling option, especially if you don't already have a card that earns good bonus rewards on travel.
Jump to
Jump to:
Synovus Card Options
There are three personal Synovus credit cards that earn rewards on your purchases. Synovus Webpage.
- Travel Rewards. This is the best Synovus card, but has a $50 annual fee (waived first year). Along with the 3x points in the category of your choice, you'll get 5x rewards on your first $5,000 of travel purchases and a 20% bonus when using your points to make travel purchases. The bonus boosts your rewards rates to 3.6% and 6%.
- Rewards . The no-annual-fee version earns 3x points on the category of your choice, but doesn't earn the extra bonus rewards on travel purchases. Without the 20% bonus on travel redemptions, each point you earn is also worth less.
- Cash Rewards version. The cash rewards version earns 3% cash back, rather than 3x points, in your choice of categories plus 3% back on dining. No annual fee.
In addition, there are two business cards that earn rewards. Synovus Business Webpage.
- Business Travel Rewards. Same features and benefits as the personal Travel Rewards Card. Has the same $50 annual fee, waived the first year.
- Business Rewards. Same features and benefits as the personal Rewards Card.
Collecting the Signup Bonus
There is none.
Pick Your Bonus Category
Each of the main Synovus cards let's you choose a "Dynamic Earn" category each quarter. You'll earn 3x points or 3% cash-back on that category, on up to your first $3,000 of quarterly spending.
Choices are:
- Business services
- Entertainment
- Dining
- Gas
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Maintenance
- Retail
- Travel
It is usually better to choose a category for which you aren't already earning better rewards with another card (or where your ability to earn bonus rewards is capped). For example, we think these are the only cards that earn bonus rewards on maintenance expenses.
If you are able to fully maximize your bonus rewards each quarter, you can earn an additional $360 per year on this card, over and above what you would earn from a 2% cash-back card. If you can't maximize each quarter, or your general-purpose card earns more than 2% back, your extra rewards will be less. If you have the Travel Rewards card, you are actually earning 3.6 cents per dollar, rather than 3 cents.
Other Notable Benefits
None.
Bonus Categories
- The Synovus Travel Rewards card earns more valuable rewards on your travel purchases than almost any other card. You'll earn 5x points, valued at 6 cents per dollar. However, if you highly value redeeming your points for premium cabin frequent flyer tickets, you would be better off earning Ultimate Rewards, Membership Rewards, or ThankYou points. Bonus rewards for travel are capped to $5,000 worth of purchases per year ($300 worth of rewards). Best Credit Cards for Travel Spending.
- The bonus rewards on your choice of category is a nice additional benefit, even if it is only worth about 3.6%.
- You don't want to use this card for your everyday spending. You'll earn higher rewards from a good general-purpose reward card. Get a Great General Purpose Reward Card and Use It for All of Your Spending.