As with most banks, PNC Bank charges a monthly maintenance fee for checking and savings account services. Have you ever wondered, “Why is PNC charging me $7 a month?” It’s likely the bank’s maintenance fee.
The good news is that PNC Bank offers multiple ways for you to avoid paying monthly service charges. All you need to do is understand how the bank’s products work.
What Is the PNC Monthly Service Charge?
PNC Bank’s monthly service charge for its checking accounts ranges from $5 to $25, depending on the type of account you have. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of PNC bank accounts and the fees they come with.
PNC Bank Checking Account Fees
| Account Type | Monthly Maintenance Fee |
|---|---|
| Virtual Wallet® | $7 |
| Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend | $15 |
| Virtual Wallet with Performance Select | $25 |
| Virtual Wallet Student | $0 |
| Foundation Checking | $5 |
| Reserve | $0 |
PNC Bank Savings Account Fees
| Account Type | Monthly Maintenance Fee |
|---|---|
| S is for Savings | $5 |
| Standard Savings | $5 |
| PNC High Yield Savings® | $0 |
| Premiere Money Market | $12 |
How To Avoid the PNC Maintenance Fee
There are several ways to avoid the monthly service charge.
1. Maintain a Minimum Checking Account Balance
You can avoid maintenance fees on your checking account by maintaining a minimum balance. Here are the minimum balances that qualify you for free checking based on types:
- Virtual Wallet: $500 in direct deposits to your Spend account, or the equivalent balance amount in all combined checking accounts
- Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend: $2,000 in direct deposit transactions to your Spend account, or the equivalent balance amount in all combined checking accounts
- Virtual Wallet with Performance Select: $5,000 in direct deposit transactions to your Spend account, or the equivalent balance amount in all combined checking accounts
- Foundation Checking: $0
- Reserve: $2,000
2. Maintain a Minimum Savings Account Balance
You can also avoid savings account maintenance fees by maintaining a minimum balance. Here are the minimum balance requirements for savings accounts:
- S is for Saving: $300
- Standard Savings: $300
- PNC High Yield Savings®: $0
- Premier Money Market: $5,000
3. Link Your Bank Accounts
If you have a Performance Select account, you can avoid fees on Interest Checking and Standard Checking accounts by linking your checking and/or savings accounts to the Performance Select account as benefit accounts.
4. Set Up Direct Deposit
If you have a Virtual Wallet account with PNC, you can avoid the $7 monthly maintenance fee by signing up for direct deposit. You won’t pay a fee as long as the account receives at least $500 per month in direct deposits.
5. Take Advantage of PNC’s Age-Based Waiver
If you’re at least 62 years old, you can take advantage of PNC Bank’s age-based waiver on select accounts.
6. Become a PNC Bank Employee
Although this may not be practical for everyone, you should consider PNC if you’re looking for a new career opportunity in banking and a new bank account at the same time. The bank waives maintenance fees for its employees.
How To Avoid PNC Bank Overdraft Fees
PNC Bank offers several features to help you avoid overdraft fees with Low Cash Mode. These include:
- Extra time: Bring your account balance up to $0 within 24 hours of the overdraft, and you won’t pay a fee.
- Payment control: Choose which checks to pay and which checks to return to avoid overdrafts.
- Alerts: You’ll always be in the know and able to take action before PNC charges an overdraft fee.
- Overdraft protection accounts: Link up to two other PNC accounts for overdraft protection.
How To Avoid PNC Bank ATM Fees
You can avoid ATM fees when you use one of approximately 60,000 PNC and Partner ATMs across the country. If you have PNC’s Virtual Wallet®, you can also take advantage of up to two fee reimbursements per payment cycle for non-PNC ATM transactions. PNC limits these reimbursements to $5 per occurrence.
Tips To Keep Your Account Fee-Free Year-Round
Avoiding PNC’s monthly service charges isn’t just about meeting the minimum balance — it often comes down to building good banking habits. A few strategies to keep in mind include:
- Set up low-balance alerts: Use the PNC app to get notified when your balance dips close to the threshold.
- Automate direct deposits: Schedule regular paycheck deposits so you don’t risk missing the monthly requirement.
- Link accounts for flexibility: Connect your checking and savings accounts so funds can work together to meet balance requirements.
- Review your account monthly: Check your statement to make sure fee waivers are being applied correctly.
Taking these steps can help you avoid unnecessary charges and make your account easier to manage.
What To Do If You’ve Been Charged a Fee by Mistake
If you notice a service charge that doesn’t seem right, don’t assume you’re stuck with it. PNC may reverse the fee in certain situations:
- Call customer service: Explain the charge and why you believe it was applied in error. If it’s your first time, representatives may be able to offer a one-time courtesy waiver.
- Visit a branch: Speaking with a banker in person can sometimes make it easier to resolve billing issues.
- Check your account type: If you’re consistently being charged, it may be a sign that a different PNC account would better fit your balance or deposit habits.
It’s always worth reaching out — in many cases, customers find that a quick conversation is all it takes to have a fee removed.
The Bottom Line on Avoiding PNC Bank Fees
If you have an account with PNC Bank, consider taking advantage of the options above to avoid maintenance fees. You might want to explore other available accounts as well, to find the best CD rates or money market accounts.
FAQ
- What is the monthly fee for PNC Bank?
- The monthly fee for a PNC Bank checking account ranges from $7 to $25, depending on the type of account you open.
- Why do I have a monthly maintenance fee Bank of America?
- Bank of America charges monthly maintenance fees if you don't have direct deposits or maintain minimum balances in accordance with the fee schedule for your account type.
- Does PNC Bank refund ATM fees?
- If you have PNC's Virtual Wallet®, you can also take advantage of up to two fee reimbursements per payment cycle for non-PNC ATM transactions. PNC limits these reimbursements to $5 per occurrence.
Cynthia Bowman contributed to the reporting for this article.
Data is accurate as of August 27, 2025, and is subject to change.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
*With Chase Overdraft AssistSM, Chase won’t charge an insufficient funds fee if you’re overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day, or if you’re overdrawn by more than $50 and you bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day (you have until 11 p.m. ET, or 8 p.m. PT, to make a deposit or transfer). Chase Overdraft Assist does not require enrollment and comes with eligible Chase checking accounts.
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