Banking » Compare Banks » Wells Fargo vs PNC: Which Bank Account Wins?

Wells Fargo vs PNC: Which Bank Account Wins?

While the checking accounts appear similar, PNC has potentially better saving and CD rates. Both banks have various mortgage packages, but Wells Fargo offers potentially larger personal loans.

March 9, 2023

March 9, 2023

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When Wells Fargo Bank Wins?

The Wells Fargo line is even more comprehensive. You can access a choice of checking accounts, various savings accounts, mortgages, loans, and investment options including IRAs, 401ks, and wealth management solutions.

Wells Fargo can be a better choice than PNC Bank if:

You’re interested in low deposit mortgages
You want access to larger loan options
You want access to 24/7 customer service.

When PNC Bank Wins?

The PNC product line includes checking and savings, home loans, mortgages, investments, student loan refinancing, and a variety of credit card options.

PNC Bank can be a better choice than Wells Fargo if:

You want a bit better CD and savings rates
You won't be able to waive checking account fee (PNC fee is lower)
You need no minimum deposit account

	Wells Fargo	PNC Bank
Savings Accounts
Checking Accounts
CDs
Money Market Account
Debit Card
Credit Cards
Personal Loans
Mortgage
Government Mortgage
Business Loans
Investing Capabilities

Savings Account

There is little to separate the Wells Fargo and PNC savings accounts. Both accounts have a $5 monthly maintenance fee, which can be waived with a $300 balance or other requirements. Both also have a quite low interest rate compared to the national average..

However, PNC has relationship rates that allow you to access a bit higher rates. The potential downside to this is that the PNC account only permits six withdrawals in any calendar month.

	Wells Fargo	PNC Bank
APY	0.15% – 2.51%	0.01% – 0.03%
Fees	$5 can be waived by maintaining a $300 minimum daily balance, one qualified automatic transfer, one or more Save as You Go transfers from your Wells Fargo checking account. Primary account owners age 24 or younger are exempt from the fees	$5 per month can be waived if you have $300 average monthly balance, linked to a select checking account, $25+ auto savings transfer each month or be aged under 18
Minimum Deposit	$25	$25
Checking Needed?	No	No
Main Benefits	Option to upgrade to Platinum Savings Automatic transfer options	Up to 6 transfers or withdrawals per month Relationship rates allow you to earn higher interest

Checking Account

Neither the Wells Fargo or PNC checking accounts are interest bearing and each account has a maintenance fee. While Wells Fargo’s fee is slightly higher, the waiver criteria is fairly similar, as you need to maintain a $500 balance or receive $500 or more in direct deposits each month.

Both accounts also have overdraft protection. While Wells Fargo allows you to link your savings account to transfer funds if your available balance drops, PNC gives its customers 24 grace to bring the balance up to avoid overdraft fees. You can also stipulate if you want to pay or return items in situations where you have insufficient funds.

One nice touch of the Wells Fargo account is that you have check writing capabilities. This is becoming less and less common, as other payment methods become more popular. However, it is nice to be able to write a check if you don’t want to share your debit card details.

	Wells Fargo	PNC Bank
APY	0.05% – 0.10%	0.01% – 0.03%
Fees	$10 Related to Wells Fargo Everyday Checking. The fee can be waived if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $500 or receive at least $500 in qualifying direct deposits per month. The fee is also waived if you’re 17 to 24 and have a linked Wells Fargo Campus Debit Card or Campus ATM card linked to the checking account	$7 per month can be waived if you maintin $500+ direct deposit per month, $500+ monthly balance in savings or age 62+
Minimum Deposit	$25	$0
Main Benefits	12,000 Wells Fargo ATMs and 4,900 Wells Fargo branches Check writing Choose your overdraft options Upgrade or downgrade with Clear Access or Portfolio checking	You’ll have up to 24 hours to bring your account balance up to the required level to avoid overdrawn fees Payment controls allow you to pay or return items if you have insufficient funds Spending and budgets categorize your spending to keep your finances on track

CDs

There is little to separate the banks’ CDs, but PNC does appear to have the edge. While Wells Fargo has a minimum deposit requirement of $2,500, PNC’s is $1.

In terms of rates – both offers more or less the same, depends on CD term.

	Wells Fargo	PNC Bank
Minimum Deposit	$2,500	$1
APY Range	0.50% – 4.26%	0.01% – 2.00%

Credit Cards

Wells Fargo has three main credit cards. Active cash has a 0% intro rate for 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers and you can earn 2% cash rewards on purchases (unlimited). Additionally, there is a welcome bonus of $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.

The Hotels.com card also has a welcome bonus that requires you spend $1,000 in the first three months, but the reward system is a little different. This card pays stamps for your purchases and 10 stamps can be redeemed for one reward night. The card has no annual fee and if you meet the welcome bonus criteria, you’ll get two free reward nights to get you started.

If you’re looking to transfer a balance or make a large purchase, the Reflect card is likely to appeal to you. This card has a 0% introductory rate for 18 months, but this may be extended for a further three months if you make your minimum payments on time.

PNC has a selection of credit card options and currently, there is a promotion to receive 50,000 points or $100 welcome bonus when you sign up for a qualifying card.

One of the most popular card options is the PNC Cash Rewards Visa. This card has a tiered reward structure, where you can earn up to 4% cash back. However, if you’re looking to transfer a balance, you may prefer the PNC Core card that has a 0% APR introductory rate for the first 15 billing cycles.

Even if you’re struggling with your credit history, there is a card option for you. The PNC Secured card allows you to open an account with a refundable security deposit of between $300 and $2,500. The size of your deposit will determine your credit limit, but your payment activity will be reported to the credit bureaus to help you build your credit score.

Mortgage

Both banks offer mortgage products. Wells Fargo has fixed rate mortgages, FHA loans and VA loans. A nice feature of this bank’s mortgages is the potential to only need a low down payment. The fixed rate loans require a down payment of 3% or more and the FHA loans need a minimum of 3.5%.

Wells Fargo also offers home equity finance. This allows you to borrow up to 80% of the property value less your mortgage, any outstanding secured loans or liens. The maximum for this finance is $500k.

PNC has home loans for purchasing and refinancing, including adjustable rate, fixed rate, jumbo loans, FHA and VA loans. There are also specialized loans for scenarios like 80-10-10. PNC allows you to apply online and lock in your rate. You can also save time with electronic verification.

Loans

Wells Fargo has a variety of loan products including student loans, auto loans and personal loans of up to $100k. The personal loans have a maximum term of 84 months, but there are discounts to the fixed interest rates for qualified customers. The loans have no closing fees, origination fees or prepayment penalties.

PNCs loan products are not as varied, but you can still access auto loans, lines of credit and personal loans for up to $20,000. Like Wells Fargo, the loans have a fixed rate and there are no prepayment penalties.

Customer Service

Wells Fargo has a 24/7 general banking helpline if you want to speak to a customer service agent, but if you have a question, you may be able to find answers on the website support page.

PNC also has a detailed customer support page with FAQs, product help and how to videos. However, if you want to speak to an agent, you can call a toll free number from 7 am to 10 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 5 pm on the weekend.

Unfortunately, neither bank has a great rating on the consumer review sites. Wells Fargo has an average 2.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot, while PNC has a poor 1.5 out of 5 rating.

Online/Digital Experience

Both banks have an app available for iOS and Android devices. Wells Fargo’s app is rated 4.8/5 on both the Apple Store and Google Play. Chase’s app has 4.8/5 on the Apple Store and 4.4 out of 5 on Google Play

Both sites have a clean design and are easy to use that offers a great user experience. You can explore and compare the products and access support materials.

Which Bank is The Winner?

Both banks have a decent product line, but there are some differences that will affect which bank is better for you.

While the checking accounts appear similar, PNC has potentially better saving and CD rates. Both banks have various mortgage packages, but Wells Fargo offers potentially larger personal loans. So, which account is best will depend on your needs and preferences.


APY Savings The annual percentage yield (APY) is a percentage that represents the amount of money or interest earned on your savings account over the course of a year. The APY factored in compound interest. A savings calculator can help you quickly determine how much you'll earn with a given APY.	0.01% – 0.03%	0.15% – 2.51%	Up to 5.02%
Checking Fee The monthly fee on checking account	$7 per month can be waived if you maintin $500+ direct deposit per month, $500+ monthly balance in savings or age 62+	$10 Related to Wells Fargo Everyday Checking. The fee can be waived if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $500 or receive at least $500 in qualifying direct deposits per month. The fee is also waived if you’re 17 to 24 and have a linked Wells Fargo Campus Debit Card or Campus ATM card linked to the checking account	Compare Banking
Mobile App Rating	4.8/5 on iOS 4.1/5 on Android	4.8/5 on iOS 4.6/5 on Android	Various Banks
	Open Account	Open Account	Compare

FAQs

Does Wells Fargo offer a promotion?

If you open a new bank account, Wells Fargo offers up to $325, as of March 2023. Learn more about the Wells Fargo new account bonus promotions.

Can you close a Wells Fargo bank account over the phone/online?

There are only two ways to close your Wells Fargo bank account; in a local Wells Fargo branch or by phone. The phone is likely to be the easiest method, as it is a toll free number and the agent will walk you through the process.

In most cases, the account can be closed immediately, but all outstanding or pending items need to have been posted and your account must have a zero or positive balance.

What does Wells Fargo offer for Joint customers?

Wells Fargo allows co-ownership of many of its products. From checking accounts to loans, you can sign up with a partner, but both of you will need to provide ID verification to open the account.

What PNC products are inflation proof?

As with most banks, if the rate of inflation increases, your money in savings products will lose real world value. However, PNC does offer lending products that are inflation proof. There are fixed rate loans and mortgage deals that allow you to lock in your rate for the borrowing period.

This means that you don’t need to worry about your monthly repayment increasing if the rate of inflation goes up. So, even if your other expenses start to cost more, you’ll know exactly how much to budget for your repayment.

Is PNC worth it if I'm a student?

PNC has several specifically designed student products. In addition to offering student loans, the bank also has student banking options. The Virtual Wallet Student is three accounts in one that provides checking and saving features with a suite of digital tools to help you keep your finances under control.

There are also several student credit card options available. This makes it easy to manage your day to day student finances with this bank.

Does PNC offer a free checking account?

There is a monthly maintenance fee associated with PNC checking accounts, but it is possible to have the fee waived if you have a minimum balance in your associated savings account or receive a minimum amount in direct deposits each month.

For the basic Spend checking account, these minimums are $500 each, but the Performance checking accounts have higher minimums.

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Wells Fargo vs Citi

Both banks offer a good selection of banking products, making it easier to switch from your current bank.

Citi offers CDs, personal loans, mortgages, IRAs, investment options, wealth management plans, and a variety of credit card options in addition to checking and savings accounts.

Wells Fargo provides savings and checking accounts, but it also provides mortgages, loans, and investment options such as IRAs, 401ks, and wealth management products.

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Wells Fargo vs US Bank

Wells Fargo offers a diverse range of products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, loans, mortgages, and investments such as 401ks, IRAs, and wealth management options.

US Bank offers an even more impressive range of banking services. Savings and checking account options, investments, personal loans, mortgage products, and wealth management are all available.

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Wells Fargo vs Flagstar

Wells Fargo offers a diverse range of banking services. Checking accounts, savings accounts, loans, mortgages, wealth management solutions, and investment options such as 401ks and IRAs are all available. Flagstar also offers a diverse product portfolio that includes a variety of checking and savings accounts, investments, home loans, and loans and investments.

It is important to note, however, that Flagstar does not operate in all states. This bank only operates in Michigan, California, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin, where it has 150 branches. As a result, if you live outside of these areas, you may be unable to use Flagstar's banking services.

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Wells Fargo vs Chase

Chase and Wells Fargo appear to offer very similar products at first glance, so we need to dig a little deeper. There is little to distinguish the savings accounts, and both banks provide a variety of checking accounts.

While Chase's account maintenance fee is slightly higher, it does have some more interesting features. Chase also has an advantage in terms of CDs, but Wells Fargo is a better option for loans and mortgages.

Read Full Comparison: Chase vs Wells Fargo: Where to Save Your Money?

Wells Fargo vs Bank of America

Wells Fargo's product offering is even more extensive. This bank offers checking accounts, a variety of savings accounts, mortgages, loans, and investment options such as IRAs, 401ks, and wealth management services. This makes switching from another bank even easier because you'll have access to all of your favorite banking products.

Bank of America offers a diverse range of banking services. Checking and savings accounts, auto loans, home loans, credit cards, and investment options are all available.

Read Full Comparison: Bank of America vs Wells Fargo: Which Bank Is Better?

Wells Fargo vs Capital One

Capital One began as a credit card company, but has expanded its line of banking products to rival a traditional bank. Aside from checking and savings accounts, you can also get loan refinancing, auto finance, and children's accounts.

Wells Fargo offers an even broader range of products. There are several checking accounts available, as well as two savings accounts and investment options such as IRAs and 401ks. You can also get loans and mortgages, as well as wealth management services. Wells Fargo is thus a highly comparable alternative to the traditional high street bank.

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Wells Fargo vs Ally

Both Ally and Wells Fargo have a fairly impressive banking product lineup that would make switching from a traditional high street bank simple.

Ally offers CDs, auto loans, mortgages, investments, and retirement products in addition to checking and savings. The only glaring omission in the lineup is the absence of a credit card.

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