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PNC Bank Summary
PNC Bank, member FDIC, was founded in 1865 and is now the seventh-largest US bank. PNC provides three types of checking accounts: Simple Checking, for those who want hassle-free checking; Virtual Wallet, which includes built-in money management tools; and Virtual Wallet with Performance Select, which adds ATM fee reimbursements. When you apply online, you open a checking account, and PNC may recommend an eligible savings account during the application.
PNC Bank Pros & Cons
Pros
No minimum deposit to open online
Up to $400 cash bonus offer*
Cons
Low interest rates for student accounts
PNC Bank at a glance
9.2
Editorial scoreFees
Accounts can be fee-free with qualifying activity
9.0
Security
FDIC insured (directly), SSL/AES encryption and supports 2 factor authentication
10.0
Customer Service
Early morning, evening and weekend service with multiple communication options and a dedicated fraud team
9.0
Online and Mobile Experience
Excellent site, highly-rated mobile app; app is 4.8 out of 5 in the app store and 4.5 out of 5 on Google Play
10.0
Features and Benefits
Includes banking bonus for direct deposit, large network of PNC and partner ATMs (60,000+); charges for overdrafts over $5 and no early direct deposit
8.0
Cutting-Edge Banking Services
One of the neatest tools that PNC offers is Low Cash Mode®, which the bank rolled out in 2021. With Low Cash Mode®, you’ll receive alerts when you’re in danger of overdrawing your account. Even better, you have 24 hours to bring your balance back above $0 before you are charged an overdraft fee, and you can choose whether to cancel checks or money transfers if they will send your account into a negative balance.
Virtual Wallet also includes budgeting tools to help you track your spending and upcoming bills. You can visualize upcoming bills on a calendar, which automatically highlights days when your account is at risk of becoming overdrawn, and the color-coded Money Bar shows your available funds at a glance. You can also add a savings account at no charge.
Traditional Banking Services
PNC has been around for over 175 years, so it has a number of traditional banking services. The bank operates more than 2,000+ physical branches and 60,000 PNC and Partner ATMs across 27 states and Washington, D.C. It also offers credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and investment accounts.
Interest Rates and Fees
| Monthly fee | Overdraft fee | Interest (APY) | Minimum balance to earn interest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNC Simple Checking | $5 | $0 | 0% | N/A |
| Virtual Wallet | $7 | $36 | 0% | N/A |
| Virtual Wallet with Performance Select | $25 | $36 | 0.01% | $2,000 |
Customer Service and Online Experience
PNC offers customer support by phone, email, and live chat 7 days a week. Customer support isn’t available 24/7, but extended hours are offered (8 AM-9 PM ET) on weekdays. You can also get in touch with support directly through the mobile app.
Mobile App
The PNC mobile app is available for iOS and Android and makes it easy to manage your PNC accounts on the go. The app offers many of the same budgeting, bill scheduling, and money transfer tools as your online account. It also supports mobile check deposits and has an ATM finder to help you locate PNC ATMs in your area. You can manage activity alerts and access a Low Cash Mode® through the mobile app.
Watch this short film to find out more about PNC’s mobile app.
Security
PNC protects your account with encryption and security features such as biometric login and two-factor authentication. It’s also easy to set up email or SMS account activity alerts so you always know when a transaction is made from your account. PNC has a dedicated card-loss prevention phone number, and all accounts are FDIC-insured.
Summary
PNC’s Virtual Wallet is an online checking account built for people who want more control over their everyday money. It comes with budgeting tools, a bill calendar, the color-coded Money Bar, and Low Cash Mode® to help you avoid overdraft fees. Opening an account online takes about 10 minutes with no minimum deposit, and PNC may recommend an eligible savings account during the application. You can also add a savings account at no charge. The monthly service charge can drop to $0 with qualifying activity, and new customers can earn up to $400 with qualifying direct deposits.* As one of the country’s largest legacy banks, PNC pairs these digital tools with more than 2,000 branches, approximately 60,000 PNC and Partner ATMs, and a full range of traditional banking services.
Methodology
This review was created using information from the PNC website.
PNC Bank Disclosure
PNC Disclaimer:
*You will not be eligible for the offer if you or any signer on the new account has an existing PNC Bank consumer checking account or have closed an account within the past 12 months, or if you have been a primary signer on a consumer checking account that has received a PNC promotional premium in the past 24 months. If multiple accounts are opened with the same signers, only one account will be eligible for the premium. Trust, Estate, and other specialty titled accounts are excluded from this offer.
You may earn a $400 reward if you open a new Virtual Wallet with Performance Select or a $100 reward if you open new Virtual Wallet and meet all qualifying conditions. After you open a checking product, you must remain in that product to receive the corresponding reward; changing your checking product after account opening could result in your offer eligibility, terms, and corresponding reward amount changing.
Offer is valid 9/1/2026 through 1/7/2027 and may be extended, modified, or discontinued at any time and may vary by market. PNC Bank may have other checking offers with different terms.
To receive the reward:
- 1) Open a new, eligible PNC checking product online via the application links on this page or in a physical PNC location with the coupon code. 2) Set up and receive total qualifying direct deposit(s) within the first 60 days. A qualifying direct deposit for this offer is defined as a recurring direct deposit of a paycheck, pension, Social Security, or other regular income electronically deposited by an employer or an outside agency into the Spend account. The total amount of all qualifying direct deposits received into your Spend account must be at least $500 for Virtual Wallet or $5,000 for Virtual Wallet with Performance Select. Credit card cash advance transfers, wire transfers, person-to-person transfers, transfers from one account to another, or deposits made at a branch, ATM, mobile device or through the mail do not qualify as qualifying direct deposits.
The reward will be credited to the eligible account 60–90 days after all conditions have been met and identified as “Credits Check Reward” on your monthly statement. The eligible account must remain open to receive the reward. The value of the reward may be reported on the appropriate Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms and may be considered taxable income to you. Please consult your tax adviser.
- 2) Set up and receive total qualifying direct deposit(s) within the first 60 days. A qualifying direct deposit for this offer is defined as a recurring direct deposit of a paycheck, pension, Social Security, or other regular income electronically deposited by an employer or an outside agency into the Spend account. The total amount of all qualifying direct deposits received into your Spend account must be at least $500 for Virtual Wallet or $5,000 for Virtual Wallet with Performance Select. Credit card cash advance transfers, wire transfers, person-to-person transfers, transfers from one account to another, or deposits made at a branch, ATM, mobile device or through the mail do not qualify as qualifying direct deposits.
The reward will be credited to the eligible account 60–90 days after all conditions have been met and identified as “Credits Check Reward” on your monthly statement. The eligible account must remain open to receive the reward. The value of the reward may be reported on the appropriate Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms and may be considered taxable income to you. Please consult your tax adviser.
Visit PNC.com/locator to find a PNC or Partner ATM near you where PNC customers can access money fee-free. Partner ATMs are not owned by PNC and may be limited to cash withdrawal functionality.
Virtual Wallet with Performance Select includes no charge for using other banks' domestic or international ATMs and up to $10 fee reimbursement per statement cycle for other banks' ATM surcharge fees.Low Cash Mode is only available on the Spend account of your Virtual Wallet product.This content is not provided by the bank advertiser. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank advertiser.
Written byMichael Graw
Michael Graw is a personal finance expert at BestMoney.com, specializing in online banking and insurance. His work has appeared in print magazines and on high-impact websites. With a passion for clarity and practicality, Michael helps readers navigate today’s financial landscape.