How to Remove SYW MC/CBNA From Your Credit Report

SYW MC/CBNA on your credit report stands for Shop Your Way Mastercard and Citibank North America. It appears when Citibank ran a hard inquiry in connection with a Shop Your Way Mastercard application.

There’s an important update worth knowing: the Citi Shop Your Way Mastercard was officially discontinued in November 2025, with existing cardholders automatically converted to a standard Citi Mastercard. New applications stopped being accepted in July 2025.

If SYW MC/CBNA is on your credit report, it reflects a past application through Citibank rather than a current product. A new Shop Your Way card is now available through First Bank & Trust under a different name, but that card generates a different inquiry code.

What Is SYW MC/CBNA on Your Credit Report?

SYW MC/CBNA stands for Shop Your Way Mastercard and Citibank North America. It appeared on credit reports when Citibank processed a Shop Your Way Mastercard application and ran a hard inquiry to evaluate the applicant’s credit history.

The Shop Your Way Mastercard was a rewards card connected to the Shop Your Way loyalty program, which is tied to Sears and Kmart brands. It stopped accepting new applications in July 2025 and existing accounts were converted to standard Citi Mastercards in November 2025.

Why SYW MC/CBNA Appears on Your Credit Report

This entry traces back to a Shop Your Way Mastercard application processed through Citibank. Common situations that generated it include:

• Direct application: Applying for the Shop Your Way Mastercard through the Shop Your Way website or via a Citi offer generated a hard inquiry recorded as SYW MC/CBNA.
• Targeted offer response: Citi frequently sent targeted card offers to Shop Your Way loyalty members. Responding to one of those offers and submitting an application generated the same hard inquiry.
• Unauthorized application: If someone used your personal information to apply for the card without your knowledge, the hard inquiry still appears on your credit report.

How SYW MC/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 within the first 12 months and becomes negligible well before the entry drops off your credit report.

If the inquiry is relatively recent, it carries more weight. If it’s been on your credit report for over a year, its practical effect on your credit score is already minimal.

How Long SYW MC/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 were an existing Shop Your Way Mastercard holder whose account converted to a standard Citi Mastercard, that account also appears 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 SYW MC/CBNA Entry

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

• Contact Citibank directly: Even though the Shop Your Way Mastercard no longer exists, Citibank holds the historical inquiry data. 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 SYW MC/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

SYW MC/CBNA on your credit report is a Citibank hard inquiry tied to a Shop Your Way Mastercard application. The card was discontinued in November 2025 and is no longer available through Citibank, but past inquiries remain visible 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.