PNC offers five main credit cards, each built for a different spending pattern

PNC Bank issues credit cards through partnerships with Visa and Mastercard. The lineup includes the PNC Cash Rewards Visa, PNC Points Rewards Visa, PNC Travel Rewards Visa, PNC Secured Visa, and the PNC Preferred Rewards Visa. Each card targets a specific type of spender: someone chasing cash back, someone building points, someone traveling frequently, someone rebuilding credit, or someone with a PNC banking relationship.

The cards themselves are not unique to PNC — the bank partners with larger card networks to issue them. What matters for your decision is the rewards structure, the annual fee, the interest rate, and whether you already bank with PNC. If you do, some cards offer bonus rewards or fee waivers tied to your account status.

This guide walks through what each card does, what it costs, and how to think about whether one fits your situation. It does not cover every detail in the cardholder agreement — you will need to read that before you open an account — but it covers the main trade-offs.

Key Takeaways

  • PNC's cash back and points cards carry no annual fee, but the cash back rate is lower than some competitors offer on the same spending categories.
  • The travel rewards card charges an annual fee and requires a higher credit score, but includes travel protections like trip cancellation coverage.
  • The secured card is designed for people rebuilding credit and requires a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit.
  • PNC customers who maintain a may have access to checking account may receive bonus rewards or waived fees on some cards.
  • Interest rates and rewards rates vary based on your creditworthiness, so the offer you see depends on your credit history.

The cash back card: flat rate with no annual fee

The PNC Cash Rewards Visa gives 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no annual fee and no category bonuses. The rate is the same whether you buy groceries, gas, or plane tickets. This simplicity appeals to people who do not want to track spending categories or rotate cards.

The trade-off is that 1.5% is lower than what other no-fee cards offer in their top categories. A card that gives 3% on groceries and gas, 2% on dining, and 1% elsewhere will beat this card if you spend heavily in those categories. But if your spending is scattered or you do not want to manage multiple cards, the flat rate removes that friction.

Cash back posts monthly and can be redeemed as a statement credit, transferred to a PNC bank account, or used to pay down your balance. There is no minimum redemption amount and no expiration date on your rewards.

The points card: rewards that transfer to travel partners

The PNC Points Rewards Visa earns 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases, with no annual fee. Points can be redeemed for cash back, merchandise, or transferred to travel partners like United Airlines and Marriott Bonvoy. The transfer option is what separates this card from the cash back card — if you travel frequently with specific airlines or hotel chains, points may be worth more than cash.

The redemption value of points depends on which partner you transfer to and what you are buying. A point transferred to an airline might be worth 1 cent or more if you are buying a premium cabin seat, but worth less than 1 cent if you are buying a domestic economy flight. You have to do the math on your own travel plans to know whether points or cash back makes sense for you.

Like the cash back card, there is no annual fee and no minimum redemption. Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.

The travel card: annual fee for trip protection and lounge access

The PNC Preferred Rewards Visa charges an annual fee (the amount varies and is disclosed in the offer) and requires a higher credit score than the no-fee cards. In return, it earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. It also includes benefits like trip cancellation insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and access to airport lounges through a partner network.

Whether the annual fee pays for itself depends on how much you travel and dine, and whether you actually use the insurance and lounge benefits. If you spend $10,000 per year on travel and dining at 2 points per dollar, you earn 20,000 points. Whether that is worth the annual fee depends on what those points redeem for and what you would have earned with a no-fee card instead.

This card is most useful for people who travel multiple times per year and stay in hotels or fly frequently enough to value lounge access. If you travel once a year or less, the no-fee cards are usually the better choice.

The secured card: for rebuilding credit with a cash deposit

The PNC Secured Visa requires you to deposit cash with PNC, and that deposit becomes your credit limit. If you deposit $500, your credit limit is $500. The card charges an annual fee (disclosed in the offer), and you earn cash back on purchases — the rate is disclosed when you explore.

Secured cards are designed for people with no credit history or poor credit history who need to rebuild. The deposit protects the bank if you do not pay your bill, which is why they can approve you when other cards cannot. As you make on-time payments, your credit score improves. After 12 to 18 months of on-time payments, you may be able to graduate to an unsecured card and recover your deposit.

The deposit is not a fee — it is your own money held in a savings account. You get it back when you close the card or graduate to an unsecured version. But you do pay the annual fee, so factor that into your decision about whether a secured card makes sense for your situation.

Interest rates and credit limits depend on your credit score

PNC does not publish a single interest rate or credit limit for any of these cards. Instead, the rate and limit you receive depend on your credit score, income, and credit history. Someone with a 750 credit score will see a lower rate and higher limit than someone with a 650 score explore for the same card.

This is standard across the credit card industry, but it means you cannot know your exact terms until you explore or receive a pre-may have access to offer. Pre-may have access to offers (which PNC mails to existing customers and advertises online) show a range of rates and limits, but your actual offer may fall anywhere in that range.

If you are shopping for a card, check your credit score first using a free service like AnnualCreditReport.com or your bank's credit monitoring tool. This gives you a realistic sense of what rate you might receive and which cards are worth explore for.

PNC customer benefits and account bundling

If you have a PNC checking or savings account, some credit cards offer bonus rewards or waived annual fees. The specific benefits vary by account type and card, so you need to check your account status or ask a PNC representative what you may have access to for. A customer with a PNC Premium Checking account may receive different offers than someone with a basic checking account.

This bundling can shift the math on whether a card makes sense. A travel card with a $95 annual fee might be worth it if you have a PNC account that waives the fee, but not if you pay the full amount. Similarly, bonus rewards for opening a card may be higher for existing PNC customers than for new applicants.

If you are already a PNC customer, log into your online banking or call your branch to ask what credit card offers are available to you. If you are not a PNC customer, you can still open a credit card, but you will not receive account-specific benefits.

How PNC cards compare to competitors

PNC's no-fee cash back card (1.5% flat) is competitive but not the highest in its category. Cards from other issuers offer 2% cash back flat, or higher rates in specific categories. If you spend most of your money in one or two categories (groceries, gas, dining), a category-based card will likely earn you more.

The travel card's benefits (trip insurance, lounge access) are standard for cards in its annual fee range, but the earning rate (2 points on travel and dining) is middle-of-the-road. Some competitors offer 3% or higher on travel and dining without charging an annual fee, though those cards usually require a higher credit score or have other restrictions.

The secured card is a reasonable option for rebuilding credit, but secured cards are largely interchangeable. The main difference is the annual fee and the cash back rate. Compare the PNC secured card's terms to those of competitors like Capital One or Discover before you decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a PNC customer to open one of these cards?

No. You can open a PNC credit card without having a PNC bank account. However, if you are already a PNC customer, you may receive better offers, bonus rewards, or waived annual fees. Check with PNC directly to see what is available to you.

What credit score do I need to open a PNC credit card?

PNC does not publish minimum credit scores. The no-fee cards typically require good credit (usually 670 or higher), the travel card requires very good credit (usually 740 or higher), and the secured card is designed for people with poor or no credit history. Your actual approval depends on your full credit profile, not just your score.

Can I transfer my PNC points to any airline or hotel?

No. PNC has partnerships with specific travel companies. The list includes airlines like United and hotels like Marriott Bonvoy, but not every airline or hotel chain is available. Check the card's terms to see the full list of transfer partners before you open the account.

What happens to my deposit if I close the secured card?

Your deposit is returned to you, usually within a few business days of closing the account. If you graduate to an unsecured card instead of closing, the deposit is also returned. You do not lose the money — it is held in a savings account while you use the card.

How do I know if the travel card's annual fee is worth it?

Calculate your expected annual rewards on travel and dining, then subtract the annual fee. If you spend $5,000 per year on travel and dining at 2 points per dollar, you earn 10,000 points. If those points are worth more than the annual fee when redeemed, the card pays for itself. If not, a no-fee card is the better choice.