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PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card review

Updated:

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90 reviews from Intuit Credit Karma members

2.7

Rating: 2.7 out of 5.

Great for cash back on everyday purchases

Annual Fee: $0

This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card or similar cards.

% of members by credit limit range

$0-$3K $3K-$5K $5K-$10K $10K-$20K $20K+ 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 31% 14% 23% 27% 5%
$0-$3K $3K-$5K $5K-$10K $10K-$20K $20K+ 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 31% 14% 23% 27% 5%
$0-$3K $3K-$5K $5K-$10K $10K-$20K $20K+ 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 31% 14% 23% 27% 5%

The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $8,408, with $7,500 being the most common.

Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card or similar cards.

% of members by credit score range

Thin file Poor Fair Good Excellent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 1% 10% 12% 48% 30%
Thin file Poor Fair Good Excellent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 1% 10% 12% 48% 30%
Thin file Poor Fair Good Excellent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 1% 10% 12% 48% 30%

The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 725, with 813 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.


Member stats

Updated daily

23.6%

Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.

47 years

Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.

$89,603

Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.


Pros and cons

yesImage: yes

Generous cash back on purchases in popular categories

yesImage: yes

$0 annual fee

yesImage: yes

Good intro APR on balance transfers


ConImage: Con

Annual cap on purchases that are eligible for cash back earnings

ConImage: Con

$25 minimum redemption for cash back

ConImage: Con

This card isn’t available in every state


PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card review

Updated September 20, 2024

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Written by: Clint Proctor


What you need to know about the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card

Impressive cash back on gas station, dining and grocery purchases

The PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card offers competitive cash back rates — which can be redeemed as statement credits or deposits into a qualifying PNC bank account — on gas station, dining and grocery purchases at 4%, 3% and 2% respectively. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

But be aware: There is a total $8,000 annual cap on purchases eligible for the 4%, 3% and 2% cash back rates. After you meet that annual cap, all purchases will earn 1% cash back until your next anniversary date.

PNC is also fairly generous with how it categorizes the transactions that can earn cash back.

Keep in mind that you won’t earn cash back on gas and fuel or food and groceries from superstores, warehouse stores and certain other stores. Other purchases from these types of merchants might earn cash back — you can check with the merchant or your bank to confirm which purchases are eligible.

You could earn cash back with ease and simplicity

Earning and redeeming cash back is simple with the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card.

Unlike some other cards, you don’t need keep track of rotating categories or activate rewards in order to maximize your rewards-earnings potential.

But there are limited redemption options

Some cards allow cardholders to use their cash back to book flights or purchase gift cards on their exclusive rewards portal. Other cards allow cash back to be transferred to travel partners.

But with the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card, cash back can only be redeemed for a statement credit — or for cash, if you have a PNC Bank checking or savings account.

Also, you must have at least $25 in your PNC Cash Rewards account before you can make a redemption request. If you want to be able to redeem your cash back for amounts of $25 or less, you should look for a cash back card with no minimum redemption limit.

Intro APR on balance transfers

New cardholders are eligible for an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. The 0% intro APR only applies to balance transfers within the first 90 days from account opening. After the intro period is over, your balance transfer variable APR will be 16.24% - 27.24% (same as the variable rate for purchases) based on your credit.

Be aware that the intro period begins the moment you open your account, not from when you initiate a balance transfer.

The PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card charges a balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater, for the first 90 days from account opening. After that, the balance transfer fee goes to $5 or 4%, whichever is greater.

One more heads up: Balance transfer amounts do not earn cash back.

While this intro offer for balance transfers is good, you may be able to find even better options for balance transfer cards.

What else you need to know

Here are some other features of the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card that you should know.

Who this card is good for

This card would could be a good option for people who can take full advantage of the bonus categories without being hampered by the annual cap on cash back rewards.

If your spending is likely to blow through that ceiling, you might still find value in the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card by combining it with other cash back credit cards.

This card is also built for people who are looking for simplicity in their rewards card. If you’ve felt frustrated or intimidated by the complicated rewards programs of other cash back cards, then you may appreciate the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card’s straightforward approach.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.


Member reviews

Overall rating:

2.7

Rating: 2.7 out of 5.

90 reviews from Intuit Credit Karma members

Most helpful positive review

February 8, 2023

5

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Denied

Credit Karma Member

I have a 785 Experian which is what they check. I was denied for a valid reason. I had three recent inquiries and approvals on my report for credit cards. I called in for reconsideration and was transferred to the appropriate department. Sounded like someone working from home. She told me that unless there was an error in the credit report it wouldn't be reconsidered. I really wish they be open to further factors such as assets. She also said I could go into a branch for further consideration and to try again in 6 to 12 months. Very nice lady. Even through I was denied, I give them five starts for kindness and consideration.

Most helpful negative review

March 12, 2019

2

Rating: 2 out of 5.

 

Credit Karma Member

I applied for this card through the credit karma app. I have a 766 credit score and I'm used to being approved within a day of applying for a card. After a couple of days I got a call from PNC where they asked for all of the info that was in my application, and they said they were having trouble verifying my age. They told me to fax a copy of my drivers license. I thought this was strange, but I faxed it. I called back after 3 days to get a status on my application. I was told it was still processing. I asked if this was normal to take so long and the person said yes. After 10 days of checking my email, spam, and texts, I called again, and I was told that I had been approved. I asked if it was normal to not notify applicants of a status change via email. I didn't get an answer, but the person on the line apologized. When the card arrived a few days later, I called the number on the card to activate it. I also tried to enroll in PNC online as described in the packet that came with the card. I was unable to enroll because I didn't have a PNC online access PIN. I called the PNC help number again, and there was no option on the computer system to obtain an online access PIN. After the computer system asked me for my SSN for the 5th time for some reason, I finally talked to a human. She told me that you have to call to obtain the online access PIN. It would be nice if that info was in the packet that came with the card. She generated a pin and told me I have to use it within 15 minutes. I tried to use it immediately but discovered that the PNC app is extremely glitchy. As I filled in one field, another field would go blank or the info would move from one box to another. The person on the phone asked if I was using the app and I told her I was. She then told me to use the PNC website. I tried to use the website to enroll, but this was also glitchy. I had to wait a second or 2 after each digit I typed for it to appear on the screen. After finally filling in the required info, the system said I entered it incorrectly. I verified the info line by line and tried to enter it again with the same result. I was then told a PIN would be mailed to me. Why wasn't it mailed to start with? I'm patiently waiting now with very low expectations.

All member reviews