
PNC's Venmo acquisition has sparked a heated rivalry in the fintech space. PNC's move has been seen as a strategic play to take on larger fintech players like Square and Stripe.
One major limitation of PNC's Venmo offering is its limited geographic reach. Currently, Venmo is only available to PNC customers in the US.
PNC Bank's Fintech Competitors
PNC Bank's fintech competitors are taking note of the bank's stance on data aggregator Plaid. PNC has locked out Plaid, a move that's left some customers unable to connect their accounts to Venmo.
This move is a response to concerns about data security, with PNC's head of retail banking citing the risk of customers' account numbers being stored indefinitely by aggregators. PNC wants to know who is setting up the account.
Some fintech companies, like Venmo, rely on aggregators like Plaid to access account information. This reliance has led to concerns about data security and customer risk.
PNC Venmo Alternatives
If you're looking for alternatives to PNC Venmo, you have several options.
Zelle is a popular peer-to-peer payment service that allows users to send and receive money directly from their bank accounts. It's available in over 90% of banks and credit unions in the US.
Cash App, another alternative, offers a wide range of features, including investment options and a debit card.
Fintech Snark Tank
PNC Bank has been dealing with a wave of complaints from customers who can't connect their accounts to the Venmo app after a security update locked out data aggregator Plaid.
PNC's response to these issues has been to block data aggregators like Plaid from accessing account numbers, citing concerns about customer data safety.
This move has left many Venmo users scrambling to find alternative payment options.
PNC's head of retail banking has stated that the bank wants to ensure it knows who is setting up an account, which is a reasonable concern given that many data aggregators store account numbers indefinitely.
However, this decision has caused inconvenience for customers who rely on Venmo for their financial needs.
PNC Bank vs Are

PNC Bank vs Venmo is a war over access to customer financial data. Both companies are blaming each other for the disruption of services.
PNC customers can't set up their Venmo accounts due to this dispute. This has resulted in users losing access to PayPal, Venmo's parent organization.
PNC has suggested users switch to Venmo's rival Zelle in replies to customers on Twitter.
PNC Bank's Friction and Limitations
PNC Bank is restricting customers from setting up their Venmo accounts for making payments through the app.
This has resulted in users losing access to PayPal, Venmo's parent organization.
PNC is blaming Venmo for the disruption of services, while Venmo is pointing fingers at PNC.
In response to customer complaints on Twitter, PNC suggested users switch to Venmo's rival Zelle.
Banks like PNC are resisting fintech companies' requests for access to customer financial data to protect their own turf.
PNC Customer Frustrations
Many PNC customers have reported issues with receiving Venmo payments, with some stating that they've waited up to 3 business days for funds to be deposited into their accounts.
Some customers have expressed frustration with the limited customer support options available to them, citing long wait times on the phone and difficulty getting issues resolved.
PNC has a history of implementing new features and services, including the rollout of Venmo integration, but some customers have felt left in the dark about how to use these new features.
Some customers have reported difficulties with sending and receiving Venmo payments, citing issues with payment processing and account verification.
The integration of Venmo with PNC accounts has been a welcome addition for many customers, but some have experienced technical glitches and errors when trying to link their accounts.
PNC's customer support team has been working to address these issues, but some customers have reported feeling frustrated with the lack of clear communication about what to expect during the integration process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bank supports Venmo?
Venmo's credit card is issued by Synchrony Bank and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., both reputable financial institutions. Learn more about Venmo's banking partners and how they support your financial needs.
Sources
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2019/12/18/the-real-story-behind-the-pncvenmo-clash/
- https://bitcoinist.com/when-fintech-firm-venmo-pnc-bank-end-scuffle/
- https://www.americanbanker.com/payments/news/why-pncs-friction-with-venmo-is-not-likely-to-go-away-soon
- https://whyy.org/articles/pnc-customers-frustrated-over-restricted-access-to-third-party-payment-apps/
- https://cyberscoop.com/pnc-venmo-third-party-data-zelle-plaid/
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