If you noticed Elan Financial Services on your credit report, you might be wondering what it’s doing there and how to get it removed. Here’s what you need to know—and what to do if it wasn’t authorized.
What Is Elan Financial Services?
Elan Financial Services is a credit card issuer owned by U.S. Bank. They work behind the scenes to provide credit card services for more than 1,300 banks and credit unions across the country. If you recently applied for a credit card through a local bank or credit union, there’s a good chance the application was processed by Elan.
They may show up on your credit report after a credit card application, usually as a hard inquiry.
Banks and Credit Unions That Use Elan Financial Services
Elan partners with financial institutions of all sizes. Some of the banks and credit unions that issue Elan-backed credit cards include:
- Associated Bank
- Bank of Oklahoma
- Banner Federal Credit Union
- BMW
- Bremer Bank
- Busey Bank
- Chevron Federal Credit Union
- Country Club Bank
- Desert Financial Credit Union
- Ent Credit Union
- Envision Bank
- Farmers and Merchants Bank
- Fidelity Investments
- First Financial Northwest Bank
- First Merchants Bank
- Flagstar Bank
- Highland Bank
- Mini
- MIT Federal Credit Union
- NRL Federal Credit Union
- Renasant Bank
- Star Financial Group
- United Community Bank
- Workers Credit Union
If you applied for a credit card through any of these (or another partner institution), Elan Financial Services likely processed the application.
How a Hard Inquiry From Elan Financial Services Affects Your Credit
When Elan pulls your credit report, it creates a hard inquiry. These types of inquiries can cause a small dip in your credit score—typically just a few points. But if you rack up several hard inquiries in a short period, lenders may see you as a higher risk, and your credit score can take a bigger hit.
The impact is temporary, but it’s still something to watch—especially if you’re planning to apply for more credit soon.
How Long Elan Financial Services Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report
A hard inquiry from Elan will stay on your credit report for up to two years. It doesn’t matter whether your application was approved or denied—the inquiry will be there either way. All three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—will include it.
The good news is that the impact on your credit score lessens over time. After 12 months, it carries less weight, and after 24 months, it drops off entirely.
What to Do if You Didn’t Authorize the Inquiry
If you see an inquiry from Elan Financial Services and you’re sure you didn’t apply for any credit card, it could be an error or even identity theft. Here’s how to handle it:
- Contact Elan Financial Services – Ask them to verify the inquiry. Make sure no one applied using your name or information.
- Dispute the Inquiry With the Credit Bureaus – If it’s unauthorized, file a dispute with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to get it removed.
- Monitor Your Credit Closely – Keep an eye out for any additional suspicious activity.
Elan Financial Services Contact Information
If you need to reach out to them, here’s how:
Mailing Address:
Elan Financial Services
P.O. Box 790408
St. Louis, MO 63179-0408
Phone Number:
(800) 558-3424
Can You Remove Elan Financial Services From Your Credit Report?
If the inquiry was legitimate, it’ll remain on your credit report for two years. But if it wasn’t authorized, you have every right to dispute it. That’s where credit repair companies like Credit Saint come in.
They specialize in removing inaccurate or unauthorized items from your credit report—including hard inquiries, late payments, collections, charge-offs, foreclosures, repossessions, and even bankruptcies.
Take Control of Your Credit
Your credit score plays a big role in your financial life, so it’s worth staying on top of what shows up in your credit file. If you’re dealing with negative items or just want professional help improving your credit, a free consultation with Credit Saint could be a smart move.
They even offer a 90-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied. To get started, visit their website and see how they can help you take back control of your credit.
Ready to Clean Up Your Credit Report?
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