PNC Bank review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
PNC Bank suits US households that want a big bank checking account with a Visa debit card and covered deposits, and it also runs a rewards credit card with no annual fee. The checking side carries a monthly fee of $7, which is the main thing to weigh against the fee free alternatives here.
Key facts
Credit cards
Savings
- Deposit protection
- FDIC up to USD 250,000↗
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 6 sources
Pros and cons
Pros
- Cashback pays 4% gas, 3% dining, 2% groceries, 1% other on the credit card, and that card's annual fee is $0.
- Deposits sit with PNC Bank, National Association under deposit protection of FDIC up to USD 250,000.
- Everyday spending runs on a debit card on the visa network.
- Balance transfers carry a fee of 3% during an intro period of 12 months.
Cons
- The checking account charges a monthly fee of $7, where bunq, Varo Believe Secured Credit Card and Wise list €0, $0 and £0.
- The cashback card runs an APR of 18.99% to 28.99% and a currency conversion fee of 3%, so it is priced for borrowing rather than for cheap spending.
- Rewards sit on the credit card at 4% gas, 3% dining, 2% groceries, 1% other, while the debit card on the visa network pays nothing back.
Who it suits
- US households that want everyday spending from a checking account and separate credit for gas, dining and groceries.
- Anyone clearing an old balance who can use the 12 month intro period and the 3% transfer fee.
- People who put the safety of the deposit above the monthly cost, given protection of FDIC up to USD 250,000.
Who should look elsewhere
- Fee free everyday banking, where bunq lists €0 and Wise lists £0.
- Anyone wanting a card with no borrowing cost: Varo Believe Secured Credit Card lists $0, while the PNC Bank cashback card runs an APR of 18.99% to 28.99%.
- Frequent travellers, since currency conversion is charged at 3%.
How PNC Bank compares
Where PNC Bank is available
- Available
- United States
- Licence in United States
- FDIC (FDIC cert 6384), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does PNC Bank charge each month to keep the checking account?+
The checking account carries a monthly fee of $7. The rewards credit card has no such charge, and its annual fee is $0. Most of the running cost at PNC Bank therefore sits with day to day banking rather than with the card that pays cashback.
Is my deposit protected?+
Yes, for the US bank. Deposits held with PNC Bank, National Association carry deposit protection of FDIC up to USD 250,000, and the bank is insured by the FDIC under FDIC cert 6384. That cover applies to eligible deposits placed with the bank, not to balances run on the credit card.
What does it cost to spend in another currency?+
Currency conversion is charged at 3% on the PNC Bank card, so spending outside the US costs more than the conversion itself. Domestic spending rarely meets that charge, while anyone travelling often should weigh it against accounts with a lower conversion fee.
Does the card pay rewards?+
The credit card pays cashback, with rewards of 4% gas, 3% dining, 2% groceries, 1% other. Its annual fee is $0 and the rewards type is cashback. The debit card used for everyday spending carries none of that cashback.
What does a balance transfer cost?+
A balance transfer is charged at 3% and the offer runs for an intro period of 12 months. The card has an annual fee of $0, so the transfer only pays off if the balance clears inside the intro period.
What rate applies if I keep a balance?+
The cashback credit card charges an APR of 18.99% to 28.99%. That is a borrowing cost rather than a fee, and it starts once a balance is carried. Paying in full each month leaves the card at an annual fee of $0 and avoids the 18.99% to 28.99% borrowing cost.
Which network does the card run on?+
The card is a debit card on the visa network, so it is accepted wherever that network is accepted in the US and abroad. Everyday spending runs through the checking account, and the cashback sits on the separate credit card.
Who is the account for?+
PNC Bank is a US bank, headquartered in the United States and operating as PNC Bank, National Association. It suits households that want one bank for everyday checking and a rewards credit card, rather than people who want a fee free account purely for day to day spending.
Sources
- banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind/details/6384 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Deposit protection, Headquarters, Legal entity, Licences
“CERT=6384; NAME=PNC Bank, National Association; WEBADDR=www.pnc.com; ACTIVE=1”
- whenhowandwhat.com/apply-credit-card-cash-rewards-visa-pnc checked September 26, 2026
Backs: APR, Currency conversion fee
“APR for Purchases 18.99% to 28.99% (Variable) - PNC Cash Rewards Visa”
- hustlermoneyblog.com/tag/pnc-cash-rewards-visa-credit-card checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features, Rewards rate, Rewards type
“4% cash back on gas, 3% on dining - PNC Cash Rewards Visa”
- moneylobang.com/us/pnc-bank-virtual-wallet-checking-pro-a... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Card network
“Comes with a PNC Bank Visa Debit Card”
- pnc.com/en/personal-banking/banking/checking.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Monthly fee
“Monthly service charge: $7 or $0 - PNC Virtual Wallet checking”
- wwwnw01.consumersadvocate.org/credit-cards/c/pnc-cash-rew... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Annual fee, Balance transfer fee, Balance transfer intro period, Card kind, Pricing model
“There's no annual fee for this card - PNC Cash Rewards Visa”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.