PNC Bank Points Credit Card: A Comprehensive Guide

The PNC Bank Points Credit Card is a solid choice for those looking to earn rewards on their everyday purchases. This credit card offers 4X points on dining, 2X points on gas and groceries, and 1X point on other purchases.

With a rewards program that's designed to help you earn points quickly, the PNC Bank Points Credit Card is a great option for frequent diners and grocery shoppers. The card also offers a sign-up bonus of 20,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.

The PNC Bank Points Credit Card has a relatively low annual fee of $49, making it a more affordable option compared to other credit cards on the market. This fee is waived for the first year, giving you a chance to try out the card without committing to the annual fee.

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To earn points with the PNC Bank Points Credit Card, you need to make qualifying purchases. These include online purchases, bill payments, and purchases made by swiping your card.

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Purchases made by swiping your card, internet purchases, phone or mail order purchases, bill payments (other than those made to financial institutions), and contactless purchases all qualify.

However, some transactions are excluded from earning points, such as balance transfers, cash advances, ATM transactions, convenience checks, and insurance premiums.

Here are the bonus points you can earn with additional PNC accounts or services:

You'll earn four points for every dollar spent on purchases, and you can earn additional points with these eligible accounts or services.

The PNC Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card has a robust points structure that rewards purchases in common categories. You can earn up to 4 points for every $1 in qualifying purchases, with no limit to the number of points you can earn.

To boost your rewards rate, you can qualify for one of PNC's relationship bonuses, which offer an additional 25%, 50% or 75% bonus on base points. This could mean earning 7 points per dollar spent for those in the highest tier.

You can redeem points for cash rewards, merchandise, gift cards, travel, and more. Points expire at the end of the month, 48 months after they were added to your PNC points account, unless you redeem them or keep the account active.

To redeem cash back, you have two options: getting your cash back as a statement credit or getting your cash back deposited into a qualifying PNC account. The minimum threshold to redeem cash rewards is $25, which is higher than some competitors.

The points structure is only applicable to the first $8,000 in purchases in the gas, dining, and grocery categories annually. After hitting the annual $8,000 cap, all purchases will accumulate only 1% cash back. This makes the card particularly good for low spenders who won't exceed $8,000 in spending in these categories.

Here's a breakdown of the points structure:

You can also earn bonus points on base points when you maintain certain PNC banking accounts. For example, you can earn 25% bonus points when you maintain a Virtual Wallet account, 50% bonus points when you maintain a Performance Checking account, and 75% bonus points when you maintain a Performance Select Checking account.

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The APR on the PNC Points Visa Credit Card is 20.49% - 29.49% (V), which can vary based on your income, credit history, and existing debt.

You'll also get an introductory interest rate of 0% for 12 months on balance transfers, but be aware that the regular interest rate applies after the intro period ends.

The regular PNC Points Visa Credit Card interest rate is variable, meaning it can change based on economic conditions.

The balance transfer fee is 4% of the transferred amount, with a minimum fee of $5.

The PNC Points Visa Credit Card APR on purchases is a variable rate, which can change based on certain economic conditions.

It's worth noting that the actual APR on purchases can range from 20.49% to 29.49% (V).

The APR on purchases is determined by factors such as your income, credit history, and existing debt.

After the introductory interest rate expires, the regular interest rate applies to any remaining balance.

This means you'll want to pay off your balance before the intro rate ends to avoid high interest charges.

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When you're considering a balance transfer, it's essential to know the terms and conditions of the offer. Some credit cards offer a 0% intro APR for a limited time, like 12 months, but be aware that the regular APR can be quite high, ranging from 20.49% to 29.49% (Variable) after that.

A balance transfer fee is typically charged, which can be a percentage of the transferred amount, with a minimum fee of $5. For example, some cards charge a 4% balance transfer fee.

It's worth noting that balance transfer fees can add up quickly, so it's crucial to factor this into your decision. Make sure to read the fine print and understand the terms before transferring your balance.

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Foreign transaction fees can add up quickly, especially if you're traveling abroad. The PNC Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card has foreign transaction fees of 3% of each foreign transaction in U.S. dollars.

The Citi Premier Card, on the other hand, does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it a great option for international travel. This can save you money on transactions made while abroad.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card also does not charge foreign transaction fees, giving you more flexibility when making purchases internationally.

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The PNC Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card has a $0 annual fee, which means you won't have to pay a yearly charge to use the card.

This is a big advantage, as many credit cards come with annual fees that can range from $50 to $500 or more. Paying your statement balance on time will help you avoid late fees and interest charges that contribute to credit card debt.

One of the benefits of a $0 annual fee is that you can use the card without worrying about incurring extra costs. No, there is a $0-annual-fee on the card, so you can focus on earning rewards and enjoying the benefits of the card.

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You can redeem your PNC Bank points for a variety of award options, including gift cards, merchandise, hotel stays, car rentals, flights, and cash back.

To redeem cash back, you have two options: getting your cash back as a statement credit or getting it deposited into a qualifying PNC account.

The cash back options are a bit inflexible, but they're available once you've accumulated $25 in your cash rewards account in your PNC rewards center.

Here are the two options for redeeming your cash rewards payments:

It's worth noting that once you've accumulated your cash rewards with PNC, they never expire as long as you keep the account active.

The PNC Bank Points Credit Card has some great benefits, but let's take a closer look at the card details.

The balance transfer intro APR offer is a fantastic feature, with 0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles following account opening when the balance is transferred within the first 90 days following account opening.

Cellphone protection is also included, covering up to $800 in case your phone is stolen or damaged.

Zero-liability fraud protection is another perk, giving you peace of mind when making transactions.

The Regular Purchase APR is between 19.49% to 29.49% Variable.

Here are the fees associated with the card:

The balance transfer fee changes after the first 90 days, so be sure to keep that in mind if you plan to transfer a balance.

To apply for the PNC points credit card online, you'll need to be a PNC customer.

You can't apply online unless you already bank with PNC, so if you don't have an existing relationship with the bank, you'll need to visit a PNC branch or call the bank.

The bank's online application process is limited to existing customers, although previously, non-customers in certain states could apply online.

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The starting credit limit for the PNC Points Visa Card is not explicitly disclosed by PNC Bank, but it can be as high as $20,000 based on forum posts.

Credit limits are determined by each applicant's overall creditworthiness, with those having the highest income and best credit scores generally being offered the highest starting credit limits.

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To apply for the PNC points Visa Credit Card online, you have to be a PNC customer. You can't apply online if you don't already bank with PNC, so you'll need to visit a PNC branch or call the bank.

People without an existing relationship with PNC can't apply online, no matter where they live. However, if you live in a state without a PNC branch, you might not be eligible to apply for the card at all.

It's worth noting that previously, you could apply online without an existing relationship with PNC, but only if you lived in certain states.

Paying your PNC Points Visa Credit Card bill is a breeze, and you have several options to choose from.

You can make a payment online, by phone, through the PNC Bank mobile app, by mail, or at a branch.

To pay your bill online, simply log in to your online account and find the payment button. Then, choose how much to pay, when to pay it, and where the payment is coming from.

PNC Bank also allows cardholders to set up automatic payments, which can save you time and ensure you never miss a payment.

If you're short on time, you can pay your bill by phone by calling the PNC Bank customer service number.

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PNC Bank is a significant financial institution in the United States, ranking ninth in total assets and sixth in total deposits.

The bank has a substantial presence with over 5 million credit cards in circulation, making it one of the largest credit card issuers in the country.

The PNC Points Visa Credit Card has some great features, but it's always a good idea to compare it to other options. The Citi Double Cash Card, for example, has a WalletHub rating of 4.9, the highest among the three cards.

The Citi Double Cash Card also has a 0 annual fee, which is a great perk. You can earn 2% cash back on all purchases, with no rotating categories or spending limits.

Here's a comparison of the three cards:

The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card has a Purchase Intro APR of 0% for 15 months, which can be a great deal if you need to make a large purchase.

If you're looking for alternatives to the PNC Points Visa Credit Card, you might want to consider the Citi Double Cash Card. This card has a higher WalletHub rating, with a score of 4.9 compared to the PNC Points Visa's 3.4.

The Citi Double Cash Card also offers a $200 cash back bonus after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months, which is a great incentive to sign up. To earn cash back, you'll get 2% on every purchase, with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy and an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.

One thing to keep in mind is that balance transfers on the Citi Double Cash Card have a 3% intro fee for 4 months, after which it's 5%. The PNC Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card, on the other hand, offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months.

Here's a quick comparison of the two cards:

The Citi Double Cash Card also offers a special travel offer, earning 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked on the Citi Travel portal through 12/31/25.

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The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a solid choice for those who can manage to hit the $1,500 spending limit each quarter. It offers 5% cash back on rotating categories.

You can earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This is a great incentive to get started with the card.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also offers 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, which can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more. You can even transfer rewards to premium travel Ultimate Rewards credit cards for better deals on travel.

One of the benefits of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is that it has no annual fee, so you won't have to pay extra for all the great features that come with the card.

Here are the key benefits of the Chase Freedom Flex℠:

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also offers 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%. This can be a great option for those who need to make a large purchase or consolidate debt.

The PNC Bank Points Credit Card has a lot of great features, but you might have some questions about how it works.

You can earn 3x points on purchases in your top spending category each quarter, such as dining, gas, or groceries.

What's the value of 1 point? According to the card's rewards program, 1 point is worth 1 cent, so 1,000 points can be redeemed for a $10 statement credit.

How do you redeem your points? You can redeem them for statement credits, gift cards, or travel bookings through PNC Bank's online platform.

The PNC Bank Points Credit Card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a great option for international travelers.

You can earn a 50,000-point bonus by spending $3,000 in the first 90 days after opening your account.

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