How to Remove CFNA From Your Credit Report

Most people have never heard of CFNA until it shows up on their credit report. It doesn’t sound like a car dealership or a tire shop, which is exactly what makes it confusing. CFNA stands for Credit First National Association, a bank that specializes in private label credit cards for automotive retailers and service centers across the country.

If you’ve had your tires replaced, taken your car in for repairs, or financed auto parts through a branded credit card, there’s a good chance CFNA ran the credit check. Here’s what the entry means, how it affects your credit score, and what to do if you don’t recognize it.

What Is CFNA on Your Credit Report?

CFNA stands for Credit First National Association, a bank that issues co-branded credit cards primarily for auto-related businesses. When you apply for one of their partner credit cards, CFNA runs a hard inquiry on your credit report to evaluate your application. That inquiry shows up under the CFNA name rather than the retailer’s name, which is why it often catches people off guard.

Which Companies Work With CFNA?

CFNA partners with a wide range of automotive retailers and service centers. If you’ve applied for a credit card at any of the following businesses, that’s what triggered the CFNA entry on your credit report:

How CFNA Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score

A single hard inquiry from CFNA will cause a small dip in your credit score, typically just a few points. On its own, that’s not something to be concerned about. The impact grows when multiple hard inquiries appear within a short window, which can make lenders more cautious about approving new credit applications.

The effect on your credit score fades significantly within the first 12 months, even though the entry stays on your credit report for two full years.

How Long CFNA Stays on Your Credit Report

Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for two years from the date they were pulled. All three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, display the entry to lenders during that period. Once the two years are up, it drops off automatically with no action required on your part.

What to Do If You Don’t Recognize the CFNA Entry

If CFNA is on your credit report and you don’t remember applying for a credit card at any auto retailer or service center, take it seriously. It could be a reporting error or a sign that someone used your personal information to apply for credit without your knowledge.

Here’s what to do:

• Call CFNA directly: Ask them to identify which retailer the application was tied to and when the inquiry was made. That information will help you determine whether it connects to anything you recognize.
• Dispute with the credit bureaus: If CFNA cannot verify that you authorized the inquiry, file a formal dispute with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Include your personal details and a clear explanation of why the entry should be removed from your credit report.
• File an identity theft report: If you believe someone applied for credit in your name, submit a report at IdentityTheft.gov to create an official FTC record.

Credit First National Association Contact Information

If you need to reach CFNA to ask about an inquiry or begin a dispute, here is their contact information:

Phone: (800) 321-3950

Mailing Address: Credit First National Association, P.O. Box 81315, Cleveland, OH 44181-0315

Bottom Line

CFNA on your credit report is a hard inquiry from Credit First National Association, placed when someone applied for a co-branded credit card at an auto retailer or service center. If you recognize the business, the entry is legitimate and will age off your credit report after two years.

If you don’t recognize it, act quickly. Contact CFNA, dispute the entry with the credit bureaus, and consider placing a fraud alert to protect your credit score while you sort it out. Auto retail credit cards are easy to sign up for in the moment, but the hard inquiry they leave behind is worth keeping an eye on.