How to Open a PNC Bank Account

Opening a PNC Bank account can be done online or in person at one of its brick-and-mortar branches. It's generally super easy to do, but comes with a few tricky parts that prospective account holders should be aware of. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at how you can open a PNC Bank account today.

To open a PNC Bank account online, you'll need a few items, including:

• Government-issued photo ID, such as a valid U.S. driver's license, state-issued ID, or Military ID.
• Personal information, such as your Social Security number, residential address, and date of birth.

How much does it cost to open a PNC Bank account?

Some of PNC's bank accounts have monthly service fees, but many of them can be waived. For example, its Standard Savings Account has a $5 monthly service fee that's waived if you maintain a $300 monthly balance or link a PNC checking account. Meanwhile, its PNC Virtual Wallet comes with a waivable fee that varies from $7 to $25.

That said, PNC doesn't offer the same bank accounts in all areas of the U.S. For example, in some ZIP codes, you can open a Virtual Wallet Checking Pro, which has no monthly service fee. You might also be able to open the PNC High Yield Savings, which has a competitive APY and no monthly service fee. Double-check the fee schedule before you open your account to see if your PNC Bank account has any other operating costs.

How to open a PNC Bank account

Opening a PNC Bank account is a little different than opening an account online at other banks. To help you prepare, here's what you can expect.

1. Provide your personal information

You'll need to give your name, date of birth, email address, primary address, phone number, Social Security number, and ID information. You'll also need to give employment information, such as your occupation and employer. At the end of this step, you'll review and submit your application, and you might also need to verify your identity through text or phone call.

2. Sign the terms and conditions

Once your application has been approved, you'll review the Terms & Conditions for your account, which might include an eConsent disclosure, rate sheet, fee schedule, and overdraft notification sheet. As tedious as this step may seem, don't skip over it.

At the very least, look closely at the fee schedule and understand what services and activities may result in a charge. When you're done, check the box near the bottom saying you've read and agree to the terms. You'll also need to check the box to certify your tax status.

3. State the purpose of your account

Next, you'll answer a few questions to help PNC understand how you expect to use your new account. Don't worry: These aren't trick questions. PNC is just complying with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) policies, which aim to prevent illicit activities and money laundering. You'll answer a few simple questions around your account usage, cash transactions, domestic wires, and international transactions.

4. Open your account

If your account has a debit card, you'll create a unique PIN. PNC will also give you your bank account numbers. You'll want to save these numbers in a safe, secure place, as PNC doesn't let you see them within your account. And that's it -- your PNC Bank account is now open.