Want to keep all of your finances in one place? Live in the eastern half of the US? You might want to consider PNC Bank. This regional bank offers loans for a wide range of purposes like paying for a wedding or buying inventory for your small business. Its personal loans come in lower amounts than much of the competition, so it might not be for you if you’re looking to finance a private jet. Read on to get an idea of whether this bank is right for you, and check out our in-depth reviews for more details.
What types of loans does PNC Bank offer?
PNC Bank offers a variety of loans including personal, student, car and business loans. Here’s a snapshot of how they work.
Loan type
What it is
APR
How much you can borrow
Loan term
Personal loan
An unsecured personal term loan that you can use for any legitimate purpose, including home improvements, refinancing debt or paying for a large one-time expense.
6.39% to 28.74%
$250 to $50,000
Up to 5 years
Student loan refinancing
A refinancing loan to replace your current private and federal student loans.
4.16% to 7.07% (varies by loan term)
$10,000 - $75,000
10 to 15 years
Private student loan
Loans for undergraduate students to pay for school.
A term loan to pay for a new or used car, lease buyout or refinance your current car loan.
Starting at 2.94%
$5,000 – $50,000
1 to 6 years
Business loan
Financing for any legitimate business purpose. Secured and unsecured business term loans, real estate financing, auto loans, SBA loans and lines of credit.
The loans listed above are available to residents of the following states: AL, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, VA, WI, WV. With the exception of undergraduate student loans, which are available in all 50 states.
PNC Bank also offers personal lines of credit, secured installment loans and student loans for higher education and postgraduate expenses. To learn more about how these loans work, read our review of PNC Bank personal loans or PNC Bank student loans.
Why should I consider taking out a loan with PNC Bank?
One-stop shop. Folks who prefer sticking with one institution for all of their financial needs can use PNC Bank to borrow for home improvements, expand their business, get a new car and even send their kids to school.
Secured and unsecured options. Most PNC Bank loans come with an option to add collateral to your loan for lower rates or a greater chance of approval — or not if you don’t want to risk it.
Small amounts available. You can borrow as little as $1,000 with PNC Bank’s personal and student loans — lower minimum than many personal loan providers.
Apply online. While you can still apply for a loan in person at a PNC Bank branch, you don’t need to leave your home to fill out your application.
Rate discount for PNC Bank members. Some loans come with a 0.25% or even 0.5% discount on APR for borrowers who enroll in automatic payments from a PNC Bank checking account.
Live chat. You can also use PNC Bank’s live chat feature to get quick answers at any time — even before you’ve started your application.
What do customers really say about PNC Bank?
PNC Bank has mixed online reviews as of April 2019. It isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and only has an A- rating. The number of customer complaints is also staggering: There are nearly 1,500 lodged against it. And reviews are largely negative as well, with the majority of bank customers rating it with one star.
Like many banks, the most popular complaint is poor customer service. Based on customer reviews, PNC Bank appears to frequently ask customers to jump through unnecessary hoops to get issues resolved. But keep in mind these reviews are about the bank’s various products. How customer service specifically handles questions and issues about loans may be different based on your location and the employees you work with.
How much will it cost me to borrow with PNC Bank?
PNC Bank loan costs vary widely depending on your ZIP code, loan type, loan amount and creditworthiness. Personal loans Starting from 7.24% APR, though the starting rate might be higher in your area. Student loans start at 3.69% for fixed rates that stay the same over the life of the loan and 4.16% to 7.07% (varies by loan term) for variable rates that change over time. PNC Bank caps both fixed and variable APRs at 13% on student loans.
Auto loans are perhaps the least expensive financing option that PNC Bank offers, with APRs Starting at 2.94%. Business loan rates are generally determined on a case-by-case basis so you might want to reach out to PNC Bank to find out what rate you can expect.
Why should I care about the APR?
The best way to compare the costs of loans is by comparing their annual percentage rate (APR). This number is an expression of your loan’s interest rate and any other mandatory fees (not including prepayment penalties or late fees).
Since interest adds up over time, the longer you take to pay off your loan, the more you’ll pay in total. Generally, you’ll get a more accurate comparison if you look at loans with a similar term length.
Are PNC Bank loans safe?
Generally, yes. PNC Bank uses EV SSL certificates to protect your data while entering sensitive information online — or simply browsing its website. Look for the green lock on the address bar when you’re visiting the legitimate PNC Bank site. EV SSL certification means that PNC Bank not only protects your information, but that its site has passed an identity authentication test that ensures you’re on a trusted page.
After you’ve given PNC Bank your personal information, it shares your information with other affiliates for marketing and everyday business purposes like processing transactions. However, you can limit how much it shares by calling 800-762-2118 or through its site once you’re an existing customer.
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Explore your options by APR, minimum credit score and loan amount. Select the Go to site button for more information about a particular lender.
You can apply for a PNC Bank loan online, over the phone or in person at one of its branches. The one exception is business loan applicants, who can’t apply online. To start your online application, follow these steps.
Go to PNC Bank’s website and hover over Lending in the top navigation bar.
Select the type of loan you’d like to apply for under the Products & Services heading.
Click the Apply Now button to start your application. Follow the directions to complete the application, read the terms and conditions and submit.
Eligibility requirements
PNC Bank’s eligibility requirements vary, depending on what type of financing you apply for. However, you typically need to meet the following requirements to qualify for a PNC Bank loan of any type:
Have good credit
Be over 18 years old
Be a US citizen or permanent resident
Live in one of PNC’s serviced states
Serviced states
PNC Bank student loans are available to residents of all 50 states, though you’ll need to go to an eligible school to qualify. Otherwise, you’ll need to live in one of the following states to be eligible for a PNC Bank loan.
Alabama
Delaware
Washington, DC
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Indiana
Illinois
Maryland
Michigan
Missouri
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Pros and cons
Pros
Accepts cosigners. You can have a cosigner with stronger credit sign on to some PNC Bank loans, upping your chance of approval for a competitive rate.
Autopay discounts. You can get a lower rate if you sign up for automatic payments with a PNC Bank checking account on some loans.
No prepayment penalty. Save on interest by paying off your loan early without getting slapped with a fee.
Cons
Limited website. It’s hard to get an idea of what rates you can expect without picking up the phone or turning to live chat.
Not nationwide. You’ll have to live in an eligible state to qualify for most PNC Bank loans.
Poor online reputation. PNC Bank gets an F from the Better Business Bureau and mostly negative reviews from customers across different sites — mostly about its customer service.
Bottom line
PNC Bank could be an attractive option for those living in the southeast, midwest or on the east coast who would rather stick with one bank for all of their financing needs. It only operates in 20 states, so make sure you’re eligible before you apply. Since its rates and terms vary by location and other factors, you might want to reach out to PNC Bank before you apply to learn what you personally can expect.
Want to know more? Find out how PNC Bank stacks up to other providers by visiting our loans guide.
Frequently asked questions
How can I find a PNC Bank branch near me?
Go to PNC Bank’s website and click Find ATM/Branch on the very top of the page. Enter your city, state or ZIP code and click Find.
How do I pay back my PNC Bank loan?
PNC Bank has several different payment options, including online manual payments, automatic payments, personal check by mail, Speedpay or in-branch payment.
Can I get a PNC Bank loan with bad credit?
You might be able to qualify if other aspects of your personal finances are stellar, but it’s likely you’ll have a hard time qualifying for a favorable rate.
Anna Serio is a lead editor at Finder, specializing in consumer and business financing. A trusted lending expert and former certified commercial loan officer, Anna's written and edited more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. Her expertise and analysis on personal, student, business and car loans has been featured in publications like Business Insider, CNBC and Nasdaq, and has appeared on NBC and KADN. Anna holds an MA in Middle Eastern studies from the American University of Beirut and a BA in Creative Writing from Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, CUNY.
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