How to Remove SYNCB/JCP From Your Credit Report

SYNCB/JCP on your credit report is one of the more recognizable Synchrony codes once you know what JCP stands for. It’s JCPenney, and the entry shows up when Synchrony Bank runs a hard inquiry for a JCPenney credit card application. Synchrony has been JCPenney’s credit card partner for more than 25 years, and that partnership was extended again in late 2024.

If you’ve recently applied for a JCPenney store card or JCPenney Mastercard, this entry is expected. If you don’t recognize it, here’s what to do.

What Is SYNCB/JCP on Your Credit Report?

SYNCB/JCP stands for Synchrony Bank and JCPenney. It appears on your credit report as a hard inquiry when Synchrony processes a JCPenney credit card application in your name.

JCPenney offers two credit products through Synchrony. The JCPenney Credit Card is a store card usable only at JCPenney locations and JCP.com. The JCPenney Mastercard can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted and earns rewards both in-store and on outside purchases. Applications for either card generate the SYNCB/JCP hard inquiry on your credit report.

Why SYNCB/JCP Appears on Your Credit Report

This entry almost always traces back to a JCPenney credit card application. Here’s how it typically comes up:

• In-store application: JCPenney regularly promotes their credit card at checkout with first-purchase discounts that can be substantial. Many shoppers apply at the register without fully anticipating the credit check that follows.
• Online application: Applying through JCPenney’s website or app generates the same Synchrony hard inquiry as an in-store application.
• Unauthorized application: If someone used your personal information to apply for a JCPenney card without your knowledge, the hard inquiry still appears on your credit report.

How SYNCB/JCP Affects Your Credit Score

A single hard inquiry from Synchrony Bank causes a small dip in your credit score, typically just a few points. That’s not a meaningful concern on its own. The impact grows when multiple hard inquiries appear within a short period, which can signal to lenders that you’re actively seeking new credit.

The effect on your credit score fades within the first 12 months and becomes negligible well before the entry drops off your credit report.

How Long SYNCB/JCP 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 your JCPenney card application was approved and an account was opened, that account also appears separately on your credit report as a tradeline, affecting your credit score based on payment history, credit utilization, and account age.

What to Do If You Don’t Recognize the SYNCB/JCP Entry

An unfamiliar SYNCB/JCP entry on your credit report is worth investigating. Here’s how to handle it:

• Contact Synchrony Bank directly: Ask them to confirm what product was applied for, when the inquiry was pulled, and whether an account was opened as a result. They can verify whether the application was connected to your personal information.
• Dispute with the credit bureaus: If Synchrony 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.

Synchrony Bank Contact Information

If you need to reach Synchrony Bank to ask about a SYNCB/JCP inquiry, here is their contact information:

Phone: (800) 527-4403

Mailing Address: Synchrony Bank, 170 Election Road, Suite 125, Draper, UT 84020

Bottom Line

SYNCB/JCP on your credit report is a hard inquiry from Synchrony Bank tied to a JCPenney credit card application. If you recognize the application, the entry is legitimate and will age off your credit report after two years without any action needed.

If you don’t recognize it, contact Synchrony Bank to find out what triggered it and dispute the entry with the credit bureaus if you can’t verify it was authorized. A department store card inquiry might feel routine, but an unauthorized one always deserves follow-up.