If you’ve spotted NTB/CBNA on your credit report, you might be wondering what it means—and whether it’s hurting your credit score. Here’s what you need to know and how to get it removed if necessary.
What Is NTB/CBNA on Your Credit Report?
NTB/CBNA shows up on your credit report when you apply for a National Tire and Battery credit card. This card is issued by Citibank North America, one of the largest credit card providers in the U.S.
When you submit your application, Citibank checks your credit report. That credit check is known as a hard inquiry, and it gets recorded on your credit report under NTB/CBNA.
Hard inquiries are common anytime you apply for a new credit card, loan, or financing. While they’re a routine part of the process, they can temporarily lower your credit score.
Why NTB/CBNA Appears on Your Credit Report
NTB/CBNA appears as a direct result of applying for the National Tire and Battery credit card. Even if you didn’t get approved, the hard inquiry stays on your credit report as a record that a lender reviewed your credit history.
Lenders look at hard inquiries to gauge how actively you’re seeking new credit. One or two inquiries are usually no big deal, but several inquiries in a short period can signal risk, which may affect your ability to qualify for future credit.
How NTB/CBNA Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score
Hard inquiries from NTB/CBNA can cause your credit score to dip slightly, often by just a few points. Lenders consider these inquiries when evaluating how likely you are to manage new credit responsibly.
If you apply for multiple credit cards, loans, or lines of credit within a short window, those inquiries can add up. Too many back-to-back applications may lower your score further and make lenders think you’re overextending yourself.
To minimize the impact, try to space out your credit applications whenever possible.
How Long NTB/CBNA Stays on Your Credit Report
An NTB/CBNA hard inquiry stays on your credit report for two years. After that, it falls off automatically and no longer affects your score or credit history.
The good news is, the impact of a hard inquiry fades over time. Most of the negative effect happens in the first few months, so the longer the inquiry has been there, the less lenders pay attention to it.
Still, it’s smart to keep track of all inquiries, especially if you’re planning to apply for a mortgage, car loan, or other major financing soon.
What to Do About Unauthorized NTB/CBNA Inquiries
If you see NTB/CBNA on your credit report but never applied for a National Tire and Battery credit card, it could be a mistake—or a warning sign of identity theft.
Here’s how to handle it:
- Contact Citibank: Ask them to confirm the inquiry and provide details. Sometimes inquiries show up under abbreviations or partner names that aren’t immediately recognizable.
- Dispute with the Credit Bureaus: If the inquiry wasn’t authorized, file a dispute with the credit bureaus to have it removed.
- Protect Your Identity: If you suspect identity theft, place a fraud alert or freeze your credit reports to prevent further unauthorized activity.
Act quickly. The sooner you investigate, the better your chances of resolving the issue and protecting your credit.
How to Remove NTB/CBNA and Other Negative Marks
If the NTB/CBNA inquiry is inaccurate or unauthorized, disputing it with the credit bureaus is the first step. You can do this by submitting a dispute online, by mail, or by phone. The bureaus are required to investigate, and if they confirm the inquiry was incorrect, they’ll remove it from your credit report.
For help with disputes, some people turn to professional credit repair companies. Credit Saint is one option known for helping with inaccurate inquiries, late payments, collections, charge-offs, repossessions, foreclosures, and even bankruptcies.
Get Help Improving Your Credit
Fixing your credit can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to handle it alone. Credit Saint offers free credit consultations and has helped many people clean up their credit reports and boost their credit scores.
They even offer a 90-day money-back guarantee for added peace of mind.
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