PNC Bank Rolls Back Perks but Keeps Free Checking

Updated
PNC Bank Stops Offering Some Perks With Free Checking
PNC Bank Stops Offering Some Perks With Free Checking

PNC Bank, a major regional bank with 2,500 branches in 15 states, announced that it will no longer offer debit rewards and out-of-network ATM reimbursements on its free checking accounts, starting Sept. 12. Unlike some other big banks, though, PNC customers will still get free checking with no minimum balance.

"The key part of what PNC is doing is that it's retaining free checking," Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director at watchdog group U.S. PIRG, tells WalletPop. "I think the core message here is that banks are going to try different things to try to provide value to their customers. This bank believes free checking provides value," he says. Accounts that carry a fee or a minimum balance requirement will continue to earn debit rewards.

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