Synchrony

Amid troubling news of tariffs and layoffs, dropping delinquencies offer a rare sign of consumer health.

It's not just JPMorgan Chase. Across the industry, banks are rethinking their remote-work policies — but experts say it won't be easy to turn back the clock.

Purchases on the company's credit cards fell 4% as some customers traded down to cheaper goods or skipped discretionary spending. But CEO Brian Doubles said consumers remain in "pretty good shape" as they manage their budgets.

Regulation, credit quality and AI-fueled fraud are among the big concerns for banks and payment companies.

The store-branded card issuer is raising annual percentage rates and adding fees for paper statements to compensate for lost revenue. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new regulation is scheduled to take effect on May 14.

The credit card issuer said it's "cautiously optimistic" about its borrowers' financial health, with charge-offs expected to rise not much further than pre-pandemic levels. The upbeat outlook contrasts with a key competitor's guidance of significantly higher losses.

Investors drove up the stock prices of both companies after Ally Financial said it's selling its point-of-sale lending business to Synchrony Financial. The deal is expected to help Ally focus on its bread-and-butter auto lending business, while also aiding Synchrony's efforts to gain market share.

The declining credit quality included more borrowers with higher credit scores falling behind on their credit card payments. But executives said the increase remains within expectations as it continues seeing "very linear normalization" in credit.

Investors have grown concerned that 40-year highs in inflation may take a bite out of consumers and lead to credit troubles, but Synchrony executives say consumers are continuing to manage “incredibly well.”

As Mastercard Installments nears launch, the card network is lining up tech partners to connect issuers to its buy now/pay later ecosystem.