[Updated 2025.2] The $200 and $400 checking bonuses are back. To qualify, you need to complete a $5,000 or $2,000 direct deposit requirement within 60 days. This offer expires on March 31. See the detailed explanation in this post for the exact requirements and application links.
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About PNC Bank
PNC stands for PNC Financial Services. Its retail banking business is mainly concentrated on the East Coast and in the Northeastern Rust Belt. Its reputation is decent. The current checking account bonus comes in two versions, $200 and $400. The eligible account type is different for each, and so is the required Direct Deposit amount.
Deposits are protected by FDIC insurance.
Bank deposit products and services provided by PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.
PNC Checking Accounts
There are two offers, $200 and $400, and both require Direct Deposit.
- Expiration: Ends on March 31, 2025
- Account opening restrictions: Only U.S. citizens can open an account online. People with other statuses need to open the account in person at a branch. Don’t forget to first request an offer coupon email on the webpage; you need the code in that email to receive the bonus.
- Tax reporting: You will receive a 1099-INT for the bonus.
The bonus will be deposited into your account 60-90 days after completing the requirements. Your account must remain open and in good standing when the bonus is paid.
If you have had a PNC savings or checking account within the past 12 months, you are not eligible for the account opening bonus. In addition, if you have received a PNC account opening bonus within the past 24 months, you are also not eligible this time. So it may make sense to close the account soon after receiving the bonus and wait for the next round.
The new account will not be eligible for the offer if you or any signer on the new account has an existing PNC Bank consumer checking account or has closed an account within the past 12 months, or if you have been paid a PNC promotional premium in the past 24 months. I
Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend Account
Application link
Requirements
- You must receive at least $2,000 in Direct Deposits within 60 days of account opening.
- Monthly fee: $15
- Free withdrawals at non-PNC ATMs.
How to waive the monthly fee
- Maintain an average monthly balance of at least $2,000.
- Or receive at least $2,000 in Direct Deposits per month.
- Or maintain at least $10,000 in linked account balances.
Virtual Wallet with Performance Select Account
Application link
Requirements
- You must receive at least $5,000 in Direct Deposits within 60 days of account opening.
- Monthly fee: $25.
- Free withdrawals at non-PNC ATMs.
- Waiver of certain transfer fees.
- Free checks.
How to waive the monthly fee
- Maintain an average monthly balance of at least $5,000.
- Or receive at least $5,000 in Direct Deposits per month.
- Or maintain at least $25,000 in linked account balances.
PNC Direct Deposit (from Doctor of Credit)
The easiest options are PayPal and Venmo, which should have a low barrier to entry. If you have a Chase account, that method is also very reliable. If you have other brokerage accounts, transfers from investment accounts tend to be even more reliable.
The following count as a direct deposit:
- Alliant: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19(didn’t work) , 20(didn’t work) , 21,
- Ally: 1, 2, 3, 4 (didn’t work), 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (didn’t work), 10, 11, 12,
- AMEX Serve: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
- AMEX Redbird: 1
- AMEX Bluebird: 1,
- American Express HYSA: 1,
- Astra: 1,
- Bank of America: 1, 2 (didn’t work)
- Barclays: 1, 2 (didn’t work)
- BB&T: 1,
- Cash App: 1,
- Capital One 360: 1, 2, 3 (1 may no longer work), 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56(didn’t work) , 57, 58, 59, 60, 61,
- Charles Schwab: 1(brokerage) , 2, 3, 4(didn’t work) , 5, 6, 7(brokerage) , 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54,
- Chase: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54. 55, 56, 57, 58(didn’t work) , 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 (didn’t work), 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 (didn’t work), 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161,
- Chase Business: 1, 2, 3, 4,
- Citibank: 1,
- Discover ACH: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (didn't work), 6 (didn't work), 7 (didn't work), 8 (didn't work), 9 (didn't work)
- FCB South County Bank: 1
- Fidelity: 1, 1, 2, 4,5,6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48,
- Fifth Third: 1, 2 (didn't work)
- Huntington: 1,
- Merrill Lynch: 1,
- Morgan Stanley: 1,
- M&T: 1, 2, 3,
- Navy Federal: 1, 2 (didn't work), 3 (didn't work), 4 (didn't work)
- PayPal: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1o, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, (didn’t work), 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, (didn’t work), 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 (didn’t work)
- Pentagon Federal Credit Union: 1
- Fidelity: 1, 2, 3
- Schwab: 1, 2
- Tax refund: 1,
- Transferwise: 1,
- TreasuryDirect: 1,
- USAA: 1, 2, 3 (doesn’t work)
- Vanguard: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
- Venmo: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
- Wells Fargo: 1, 2, 3 (didn’t work), 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,
- Wise: 1,
The following do not count as a direct deposit:
- Ally ACH: 1, 2 (used to work: 1
- American Express Savings: 1
- Charles Schwab: 1 (checking)
- Citi: 1,
- Tech CU: 1,