Chicago, Illinois; Kettering, Ohio; and Hyderabad, India. Synchrony's corporate ventures arm, Synchrony Ventures, invests in early-stage companies that provide emerging technology and products. In 2016, Synchrony Financial launched Digital Apply, a credit application site, and SyPI (Synchrony plug-in), a feature for retailers' mobile apps, through which customers can access their credit card information. As of 2019, more than 20 retailers had adopted SyPI and nearly $2 billion in credit card payments had been made through the technology. In 2018, Synchrony created the Alexa Store Card skill for customers to manage their Amazon Store Cards via voice technology. A majority of Synchrony's retail partners have deployed Synchrony's AI-enabled virtual assistant Sydney for cardholders. Public-private partnerships In 2016, the University of Connecticut's School of Engineering announced the launch of Synchrony's Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity. In 2018, Synchrony opened an emerging tech center at the University of Illinois. In 2019, Synchrony opened the Synchrony Digital Technology Center at the University of Connecticut's Stamford campus. During the dedication of the Center, the company announced a $1 million donation to the "Connecticut Commitment" – an initiative aimed at helping lower-income Connecticut students attend the University, tuition-free. Settlements In June 2014, shortly before Synchrony's New York Stock Exchange debut, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Justice reached a $225 million settlement with the company after it entered into a consent decree with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The settlement stated that while operating as GE Capital Bank, the company had engaged in deceptive and discriminatory credit card practices, primarily surrounding nefarious enrollment practices for add-on programs such as financial hardship relief. According to USA Today, "The bank said it discontinued such sales practices in 2012 and has already refunded more than $11 million in fees as a result of its own review," however the CFPB ordered many millions more in redress, and consumer complaints to the Bureau about these practices continue to the present day. References External links American companies established in 2003 Financial services companies established in 2003 Credit cards in the United States Companies based in Stamford, Connecticut Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Financial services companies of the United States 2014 initial public offerings