A Conversation with Curtis Howse, EVP and CEO of Synchrony’s Payment Solutions Platform

Curtis Howse was recently named Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Synchrony’s Payment Solutions platform. With more than 25 years of experience in consumer finance, Curtis has been an invaluable member of our team, most recently leading our Direct to Consumer efforts.

As he settles into his new role, we’ll look to Curtis and his team to continue to grow Payment Solutions, innovating and enhancing the digital and in-store consumer payment experience with our merchant partners.

I recently sat down with Curtis to discuss his new role and his vision for the future.

MARGARET: Curtis, I know I’ve said it before, but congratulations. We continue to be so appreciative of your leadership, especially all that you’ve done the last few years to drive growth and innovation within Synchrony Bank. I know we’re excited about all that you’ll bring to the Payment Solutions team. As you think about your early priorities, where will you focus?

CURTIS: Margaret, thank you. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to lead Payment Solutions. The team has done a phenomenal job establishing Synchrony as the consumer financing solutions provider of choice across many industries, including auto, furniture, home improvement, powersports and more.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the businesses we serve. We’re working hard to do everything we can to support each of our partners and their communities.

I want each of the businesses we work with to know Synchrony as a strategic partner that is there to help them manage, market and grow their business. A great example of how we’re doing this is through our Synchrony Connect for Small Business program, which aims to help our small and medium-sized businesses learn from experts and successful peers through webinars, special events, and one-on-one consulting opportunities.

MARGARET: I continue to be so proud of the ways we’ve supported our partners. This is especially true when we think of our small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB), who are at the heart of our economy. Amidst the pandemic – and even thinking beyond COVID – the SMB community needs to be able to offer digital capabilities that help them compete. Can you talk about how you’ll bring your insights leading our direct-to-consumer work to continue to enhance our product offerings, specifically those designed to create simpler consumer experiences for those shopping with our small and medium sized partners?

CURTIS: As consumer technology continues to improve, more and more financial solutions are direct-to-consumer. Synchrony is driving digital innovation in this space by investing heavily in mobile computing, cloud, and business analytics, which has never been more important than today.

For Synchrony and our Payment Solutions team, we’re working to continually enhance our product offerings so we can enable merchants to meet their customers at the moments that matter most throughout their purchasing journey. Of course, the most critical moment is at the point-of-sale. Our goal is to ensure a safe and seamless experience for every stage of the customer’s experience with our partners, whether that’s applying for credit, completing the transaction, paying a bill or servicing an account. We are laser focused on providing product choice and an exceptional experience to both merchants and their consumers at any point in their shopping journey.

MARGARET: It is really exciting. Before we wrap-up, let me just ask you more personally, what are you most looking forward to in the new role?

CURTIS: First and foremost, I am incredibly humbled to have the opportunity to lead this special team. I’ve already experienced what a passionate, diverse, customer-centric team we have in Payment Solutions. I’m so thankful to you, Brian and the Board of Directors for this opportunity.

Throughout my career, I’ve always tried to be a leader who champions innovation and inclusivity by bringing diverse perspectives together, challenging old assumptions and, like you Margaret, making sure our teams represent those we serve. I’ll continue this commitment in this new role, especially as we continue to provide innovative financing solutions that enable our merchants to grow their business, develop a loyal and repeat customer base and stand out from the competition.

MARGARET: Thanks Curtis. We’re excited for all that lies ahead.

To read more about Curtis Howse’s appointment, click here.