How to Remove BBY/CBNA From Your Credit Report

If you’ve noticed BBY/CBNA on your credit report, it’s usually connected to a Best Buy credit card application. Here’s what that code means, how it affects your credit score, and how to remove it if the inquiry wasn’t authorized.

What Is BBY/CBNA on Your Credit Report?

BBY/CBNA stands for Best Buy and Citibank North America. Citibank issues Best Buy’s store credit cards, and when you apply, they perform a hard inquiry on your credit report. That inquiry shows up as BBY/CBNA or CBNA/BBY.

Even if your application was denied, the inquiry remains on your credit report as a record that your credit was reviewed.

Why BBY/CBNA Appears on Your Credit Report

Hard inquiries like BBY/CBNA appear anytime a lender checks your credit for new credit applications. This can include:

• Credit card applications
• Loan applications
• Some rental or lease agreements

While one inquiry has a small impact, multiple inquiries in a short period can make lenders cautious and may lower your credit score further.

How BBY/CBNA Hard Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score

Hard inquiries can lower your credit score by a few points, typically between 5 to 10 points, depending on your overall credit profile.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Multiple inquiries for the same type of credit (like car loans or mortgages) within a short timeframe are often grouped as one, which is called rate shopping.
• Hard inquiries for different types of credit, like a credit card and an auto loan, are treated separately and can have a cumulative effect.
• Too many inquiries within a short period can make lenders view you as a higher risk.

Being selective with your credit applications helps protect your credit score.

How Long BBY/CBNA Stays on Your Credit Report

BBY/CBNA hard inquiries stay on your credit report for two years. The impact on your credit score is most noticeable within the first 12 months. After two years, the inquiry automatically drops off and no longer affects your score.

If your Best Buy credit card was approved, the account itself will also show up on your credit report, which affects your score based on payment history, balance, and credit utilization.

What to Do About Unauthorized BBY/CBNA Inquiries

If you didn’t apply for a Best Buy credit card and BBY/CBNA appears on your credit report, take action quickly—it could be a sign of fraud or an error.

Here’s how to handle it:

• Contact Citibank North America: Ask them to verify the details of the inquiry. They can confirm whether an application was submitted using your information.
• Dispute the inquiry with the credit bureaus: If the inquiry was unauthorized or made in error, file disputes with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to have it removed.
• Consider a fraud alert or credit freeze: This adds an extra layer of protection and makes it harder for anyone to open accounts in your name.

You can request free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com to monitor your credit regularly.

Can BBY/CBNA Be Removed From Your Credit Report?

If the inquiry was legitimate, it stays on your credit report for two years and cannot be removed early. But if it was unauthorized or inaccurate, you can dispute it and request removal.

Professional credit repair services can also help with disputes and guide you through the process.

Get Help Removing Inquiries and Negative Items

Credit Saint is one of the top-rated credit repair companies in the industry. They work with people to challenge inaccurate or harmful information on their credit reports, including:

• late payments
• collections
• charge-offs
• foreclosures
• repossessions
• bankruptcies

They even offer a 90-day money-back guarantee to give you confidence in their services.

If BBY/CBNA or other negative marks are dragging down your credit, Credit Saint can help. Start with a free consultation to see how they can support your credit repair goals.

Visit their website today to get started.