Update 1/3/23: Extended until 3/31/23
Terms state good through 01/02/2022. I assume it should be 01/02/2023.
Update 8/29/22: Deal is back and valid until 10/31/2022.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $200 or $400
- Availability: Nationwide
- Direct deposit required: $2,000-$5,000 depending on bonus
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Codes as a cash advance
- Monthly fees: $15-$25, avoidable
- Early account termination fee:
$25 if closed within six monthsnone - Household Limit: None
- U.S. Citizenship Required: Yes, for online applications. Resident alien and non-resident aliens now allowed online.
- Expiration date:
10/31/20216/30/22
Contents
The Offer
- PNC is offering checking bonuses of up to $400. Both bonuses require the following direct deposits within 60 days of account opening:
- Open a Virtual Wallet Performance Spend and receive $200 with direct deposits totaling $2,000
- Open a Virtual Wallet Performance Select and receive $400 with direct deposits totaling $5,000
- To qualify for the reward, the new Virtual Wallet product must be opened online via the application links on this page and completed with a mobile device between 5/03/2022 to 6/30/2022
The Fine Print
- Offer is contingent on product availability and may vary based on where you open your account and the Zip code of your primary address. For online or phone origination, the Zip code of your primary address will be used to determine product availability. For origination through a PNC location, product availability will be based on the physical PNC location. You may earn a $400 reward if you open a new Virtual Wallet with Performance Select or a $250 reward if you open a new Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend. Changing your product type any time after account opening and prior to the payout of your earned reward, could result in different offer requirements and reward amount.
- To qualify for the reward, the new Virtual Wallet product must be opened online via the application links on this page between 9/21/2021 to 10/31/2021, and a qualifying Direct Deposit(s) must be received within the first 60 days. Your Virtual Wallet product must remain open in order for you to receive the reward, which will be credited to the eligible account within 60–90 days after all conditions have been met and will be identified as “Cash Trans Promo Reward” on your monthly statement.
- A qualifying Direct Deposit for this offer, is defined as a recurring Direct Deposit of a paycheck, pension, Social Security or other regular monthly income electronically deposited by an employer or an outside agency into the Spend account of a Virtual Wallet with Performance Select or Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend. The total amount of all qualifying Direct Deposits credited to your Spend account must be at least $5,000 for Virtual Wallet Performance Select or $2,000 for Virtual Wallet Performance Spend. Credit card cash advance transfers, wire transfers, person to person transfers, transfers from one account to another or deposits made at a physical PNC location or ATM do not qualify as qualifying Direct Deposits.
- New account will not be eligible for offer if any signer has signing authority on an existing PNC Bank consumer checking account or has closed an account within the past 90 days, or has been paid a promotional premium in the past 24 months. If multiple accounts are opened with the same signers, only one account will be eligible for the premium. Trust, Estate and other specialty titled accounts are excluded from this offer. For this offer, signing authority will be defined by the customer name(s) and Social Security number(s) registered on the account. Offer may be extended, modified or discontinued at any time and may vary by market. The value of the reward may be reported on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1099, and may be considered taxable income to you. Please consult your tax adviser regarding your specific situation.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Virtual Wallet Checking Pro with Spend ($200 Bonus)
This account has no monthly fee.
Virtual Wallet With Performance Select $25 Monthly Fee ($400 Bonus)
You can get this fee waived if you meet any of the following:
- Average monthly balance of $5,000 or more
- Qualifying direct deposits of $5,000 or more
- $25,000 in linked eligible account
Early Account Termination Fee
There is an early account termination fee of $25. This is charged if you close your account within 180 days. There is some evidence to suggest that they don’t actually charge this fee, but YMMV.
Our Verdict
Seems similar to the previous PNC deal, but this time the $400 link should be showing for more people. Not sure if this deal is available nationwide or not, but the $400 bonus is as good as it gets from PNC so we will add this to our list of the best bank account bonuses.
Hat tip to reader Jackie
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To ChexSystems
- Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
- What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
- How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
- Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
- How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
- Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
- Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
- Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
- Bank Bonus Posting Times
For some reason, I see only a $200 bonus offer. It makes me choose Virtual Wallet Checking Pro
with Spend, Reserve & Growth or Virtual Wallet Checking Pro
with Spend*
Which one did you select? Thank you
I did one transfer with Wells Fargo and it was marked as “Direct Deposit – DDA to DDA”, and then I did one with Chase and it was marked as “Direct Deposit – Ext Transfr”…
Does this mean the Chase one will not work?
Thanks
If you search comments on this page, you’ll find plenty of DPs for Chase such as this one:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/pnc-up-to-250-400-checking-bonus/#comment-1579290
Wells Fargo worked for mine
Fidelity not working.
it shows as “ACH” not DD
Any DP?
Update: ACH from Fidelity CMA categorized as Investment+Retirement Income and triggered DD email.
Accident. Please delete.
“You can get this fee waived if you meet any of the following:
-Average monthly balance of $5,000 or more
-Qualifying direct deposits of $5,000 or more”
If I direct deposit $10,000 in the first month does that “average” out as $5,000 over March and April? Or do I still need to direct deposit another $5,000 in April?
William Charles
Gadget - Bank Bonus Geek
You get a 60 day grace period to meet fee waiver qualifications, plenty of time to average $5000 monthly balance.
Banks don’t charge the fee the first month, and usually not the 2nd month, but there are exceptions and rarely is it in the terms of how long fees are waived.
Notice nobody reports getting hit with a fee…. and would be quick to report back if that was the case.
I would continue the $5K direct deposits each month if you don’t plan to keep the $5K in the account after the first month. Never zero an account where you are waiting on a bonus. You can’t “average” out direct deposits in future months.
Thanks.
Applied online today, had a targeted mail in offer for $500/$200. Was denied because of EWS.
Any chance it can be bypassed if I apply in branch?
Pushed chase $2501 from chase on 2/22, then $2500 from chase again on 2/24. No bonus. Pushed 5k from fidelity 3/20. Not sure if that will work. How,long does it take for bonus to post. Appears chase isn’t working
No one here has reported opening an account on or after February 1 and receiving the bonus. Patience is key.
Based on the dps bonuses are paid out in the 3rd month. So I think those who opened account in Feb should get the bonus in April.
01/23 – Account opened
02/08 – Schwab Brokerage push $2000+
appeared as “Direct Deposit – Moneylink SCHWAB BROKERAGE” on statement
02/16 – Chase non-RTT push $2000+
appeared as “Direct Deposit – Ext Trnsfr JPMORGAN CHASE” on statement
03/01 – $200 Bonus posted
A couple people mentioned a “DD tracker” in their online banking. Where exactly do you find that tracker? Not finding it so far. Thanks! Did ACH push from Chase checking and it said Direct deposit on my statement, but I don’t yet have the bonus nor can I find the tracker. Hopefully bonus is still on its way.
If you go to the growth account then March Interest Rate & activity it shows your dd amount for Feb and March.
I got denied