How to Remove Sears/CBNA From Your Credit Report

Sears/CBNA on your credit report points to a credit card application that went through Citibank North America on behalf of Sears. The CBNA portion stands for Citibank North America, the issuing bank behind the Sears Mastercard for many years.

One thing worth knowing upfront: the Sears Mastercard was discontinued in 2025, and existing cardholders were automatically moved to the Citi ThankYou Mastercard. The card no longer exists under the Sears name, but past inquiries and accounts still appear on credit reports. If you see Sears/CBNA, it reflects a historical application through Citibank, not a current product.

What Is Sears/CBNA on Your Credit Report?

Sears/CBNA stands for Sears and Citibank North America. It appears on your credit report as a hard inquiry from when Citibank processed a Sears Mastercard application in your name. Citibank was the issuing bank behind the Sears Mastercard, which offered rewards and financing options for purchases at Sears and other retailers.

Because the card has since been converted to the Citi ThankYou Mastercard, any Sears/CBNA entry you see on your credit report reflects a past inquiry tied to the old product.

Why Sears/CBNA Appears on Your Credit Report

This entry traces back to a Sears Mastercard application that was processed through Citibank. Common situations that generated it include:

• In-store application: Sears promoted their Mastercard to shoppers, often with financing incentives on larger purchases. Many customers applied at the register without fully thinking through the credit check that followed.
• Online application: Applying through the Sears website generated the same Citibank hard inquiry as an in-store application.
• Unauthorized application: If someone used your personal information to apply for a Sears Mastercard through Citibank without your knowledge, the hard inquiry still appears on your credit report.

How Sears/CBNA Affects Your Credit Score

A single hard inquiry from Citibank causes a small dip in your credit score, typically just a few points. That’s not a meaningful concern on its own. The impact fades significantly within the first 12 months and becomes negligible well before the entry drops off your credit report.

If the inquiry has been on your credit report for a while, it’s likely already having little to no effect on your credit score.

How Long Sears/CBNA 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 during that window. Once the two years are up, it drops off automatically with no action required.

If you had an active Sears Mastercard that converted to the Citi ThankYou Mastercard, that account also appears on your credit report as a tradeline. The account history remains intact through the conversion, and it continues to affect your credit score based on payment history, credit utilization, and account age.

What to Do If You Don’t Recognize the Sears/CBNA Entry

If Sears/CBNA is on your credit report and you have no memory of applying for a Sears Mastercard, here’s how to handle it:

• Contact Citibank directly: Even though the Sears Mastercard no longer exists under that name, Citibank still holds the account history. Ask them to confirm what triggered the inquiry and whether an account was opened as a result.
• Dispute with the credit bureaus: If Citibank cannot verify that you authorized the inquiry, file a formal dispute with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Include your personal details and a written explanation of why the entry should be removed from your credit report.
• Place a fraud alert or credit freeze: A fraud alert requires lenders to verify your identity before approving new applications. A credit freeze provides stronger protection by blocking new credit entirely until you lift it.

Citibank North America Contact Information

If you need to reach Citibank North America to ask about a Sears/CBNA inquiry, here is their contact information:

Phone: (800) 950-5114

Mailing Address: Citibank North America, P.O. Box 6500, Sioux Falls, SD 57117

Bottom Line

Sears/CBNA on your credit report is a Citibank hard inquiry tied to a Sears Mastercard application. The Sears Mastercard was converted to the Citi ThankYou Mastercard in April 2025 and is no longer available under the Sears name, but past inquiries and accounts remain on credit reports for the standard two-year window.

If you recognize the application, the entry is legitimate and will age off your credit report on its own. If you don’t, contact Citibank to find out what triggered it and dispute the entry with the credit bureaus if you can’t verify it was authorized.