You may not expect a traditional brick-and-mortar bank to offer competitive personal loans with low rates and fees, but PNC Bank is doing just that. If you need to consolidate high-interest debt, make home improvements or finance a major purchase, take a look at what PNC personal loans have to offer.
As one of the largest banks in the nation by assets, PNC provides unsecured and secured personal installment loans with low fixed rates and fast funding. It also offers lines of credit. While borrowers don’t need an existing relationship with PNC to get a loan, those with a PNC checking account who opt for auto loan payments receive a discount on their interest rate.
Is a PNC Bank personal loan right for you?
These loans are best for those interested in consolidating debt or making a large purchase. Here’s the profile of someone who might be a good fit for a PNC Bank personal loan:
- Anyone interested in consolidating debt, especially high-interest credit card debt. Starting at 5.99 percent, rates for unsecured personal loans through PNC are relatively low compared to standard APRs on balance transfer credit cards.
- Current PNC customers with a checking account. Checking account holders at PNC get a 0.25 percent discount for setting up automatic loan payments.
- You live within PNC’s service area. Personal loans through the bank are only offered in certain zip codes in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
- Borrowers interested in an unsecured loan, secured loan or line of credit. PNC offers three types of personal loans to its customers.
- Someone who needs fast funding. PNC offers an immediate response after filling out its online application and will contact you to sign documents and receive funds at your local branch.
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Lending terms
PNC offers unsecured personal loans that range from $1,000 to $35,000 and six to 60 months. There’s no collateral required. The bank’s fixed rates start at 5.99 percent and range up to 25.44 percent. The rate you receive depends on creditworthiness, loan amount and where you live.
PNC doesn’t disclose a minimum credit score to qualify for a loan. It provides an immediate response after filling out an application online and funding once approved as soon as you can make it to a branch to sign some paperwork.
How PNC Bank Compares
| PNC | Marcus | |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amounts | $1,000 to $35,000 | $3,500 to $40,000 |
| APR range | 5.99% to 25.44% | 5.99% to 28.99% |
| Origination fee | None | None |
| Minimum credit score | Not specified | 660 Fico Score |
| Time to funding | 1-2 business days | About 2 business days |
| Soft credit check with application? | No | Yes |
Fees and penalties
PNC keeps fees to a minimum. It has no origination fee and no prepayment penalty for its unsecured loans. But those who don’t have a checking account at PNC pay 0.25 percent more on its personal loan rates.
If you’re looking to compare lending institutions without fees or penalties, check out lenders of the online variety. SoFi and Lightstream both offer fee-free loans. If you’d rather shop at a brick-and-mortar bank that offers no-to-low fees, First Midwest Bank might be a fit for you.
How to apply
You can apply for an unsecured personal loan from PNC through its website, by phone or in person at a branch. The fastest way to start the process is by using its online application.
In order to apply online you’ll need to provide your full name, Social Security number, date of birth and a photo ID. Applicants also need to include their previous address, annual income and the amount they’d like to borrow. Those applying with a co-applicant will need to provide their co-applicant’s information as well.
If approved, which may happen immediately after submitting the application online, PNC requires you to visit a local branch and sign loan documents to receive your funds.
When shopping for a loan, it’s imperative to explore options. You may find a lower rate or better loan terms at another lender. Check personal loan rates based on your loan amount, credit score, location, income and reason for the loan in order to compare the best offers.
What to do if you’re turned down
Get some clarification from the bank if you’re rejected for a loan, especially if your credit is in good standing. There’s a chance a mistake was made on their end, such as a processing error or oversight. If there wasn’t an error, it’s important to understand why the bank turned you down. You can take steps to correct any credit blemishes or other issues before applying at other lenders.
Overall, lenders are willing to compete for your business. Being turned down at one lender doesn’t necessarily mean another will do the same.
One alternative to PNC for individuals with below average credit is Upstart, which lends to individuals with fair to no credit for debt consolidation and making large purchases.
If you have an excellent credit score, consider Marcus, the online banking arm of Goldman Sachs. It charges no fees and low rates for a range of purposes.
And if you simply need fast cash, take a look at LendUp, an alternative to payday loans.
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A brief history of PNC
PNC Bank was officially founded in 1983 when two Pennsylvania banks merged, but the roots of those banks date back to the 1800s. Now PNC is one of the largest financial services institutions in the nation, with assets of $382 billion. Its retail banking arm has approximately 2,400 branches in select markets throughout the Midwest, East Coast and Southeast United States.
Along with unsecured personal loans, PNC offers secured loans, personal lines of credit, student loans, auto loans, mortgages and home equity loans. It’s a full-service bank, providing its members with checking, savings, credit cards and more.
How Bankrate Rates PNC
| Overall Score | 4.1 |
|---|---|
| Availability | 3.6 |
| Affordability | 4.8 |
| Customer Experience | 4.7 |
Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.
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