How to Avoid Checking Account Fees at PNC Bank

The main ways to avoid PNC checking fees

PNC charges monthly maintenance fees on most checking accounts, but you can eliminate them by meeting one of several conditions. The most common route is maintaining a minimum balance—typically $500 to $2,000 depending on the account type—or setting up direct deposit. Some accounts waive fees if you maintain a linked savings account with a certain balance, and a few PNC accounts have no monthly fee at all regardless of balance.

The specific fee amount and the conditions to avoid it depend on which PNC checking account you hold. A Virtual Wallet account works differently from a Performance Select or a basic checking product. Before you open an account or after you've had one for a while, you need to know which account you have and what that particular account requires.

Key Takeaways

PNC's Virtual Wallet checking account waives its $7 monthly fee if you maintain a $500 minimum balance or set up direct deposit of any amount.
Performance Select checking waives its $15 monthly fee with a $2,000 minimum balance, direct deposit, or a linked savings account with $500.
Some PNC checking accounts charge no monthly fee regardless of balance, though these may have other limitations like transaction caps or lower interest rates.
If you fall below the minimum balance requirement, the fee posts when ready—PNC does not give a grace period to bring the balance back up.
Switching to a different PNC account type or moving your direct deposit can change which fee rules explore to you.

Virtual Wallet checking and the $500 minimum balance route

PNC's Virtual Wallet is the most widely held checking account at the bank. It charges a $7 monthly maintenance fee unless you meet one of two conditions: maintain a $500 minimum balance in the checking account itself, or set up direct deposit from an employer or government benefit.

The $500 balance must be there on the day the fee would post—usually the last business day of the month. If your balance drops to $499 on that day, the $7 fee posts. PNC does not waive the fee retroactively if you bring the balance back up the next day. If you live paycheck to paycheck and your balance fluctuates, the direct deposit route is more reliable because it requires no ongoing balance maintenance.

Direct deposit can be any amount—even $1 per pay period counts. The deposit just needs to land in the account during the month. If you receive Social Security, a pension, or unemployment benefits, those all count as direct deposit for fee-waiver purposes.

Performance Select checking and the $2,000 balance option

Performance Select is PNC's premium checking account, aimed at customers who want higher interest rates and more perks. It charges a $15 monthly maintenance fee. You can waive this fee by maintaining a $2,000 minimum balance in the checking account, setting up direct deposit, or linking a savings account with a $500 minimum balance.

The $2,000 balance requirement is higher than Virtual Wallet's, which makes the direct deposit or linked savings routes more practical for many people. If you already have a PNC savings account—even one with just $500 in it—linking it to your Performance Select checking account will waive the checking fee automatically.

The linked savings account balance is checked on the same day as the checking account balance. If either account falls below its minimum on that day, the fee posts. Some customers keep a small savings account open just for this purpose, moving $500 into it each month to protect their checking account from fees.

No-fee checking accounts at PNC

PNC offers a few checking accounts that charge no monthly maintenance fee under any circumstance. These include the eChecking account and certain student or senior accounts, depending on your branch location and may be able to access. The trade-off is usually a lower interest rate on any balance you keep in the account, or limits on the number of transactions you can make per month.

eChecking has no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement, but it pays little to no interest on your balance. If you keep most of your money elsewhere and use this account mainly for bill pay and everyday spending, the lack of interest is not a practical loss. Some customers open an eChecking account specifically to avoid fees while keeping their higher-interest savings elsewhere.

Student checking and senior checking accounts may also have no fee, but availability varies by PNC branch and your may be able to access. Call your local branch or log into your PNC account online to see whether you may have access to for either of these products.

What happens if you miss the balance requirement

If your balance falls below the required minimum on the day the fee posts, PNC charges the full monthly fee. There is no partial fee, no grace period, and no option to retroactively waive it by bringing your balance back up the next day. The fee appears in your account history and reduces your balance further.

If you overdraft your account—meaning your balance goes negative—you will face both the monthly maintenance fee and overdraft fees on top of it. Overdraft fees at PNC are $35 per transaction as of the last update, though this can change. Missing the balance requirement by a small amount can trigger a cascade of fees if you are not careful.

Some customers set up a low-balance alert through PNC's online banking to notify them when their balance drops below a certain threshold. This gives you time to transfer money in before the fee posts, though you have to act quickly once the alert arrives.

Direct deposit as the most reliable fee-avoidance method

Setting up direct deposit is the most straightforward way to avoid checking fees because it requires no ongoing balance management. Once your employer or benefit provider is set up to deposit into your PNC account, the fee waiver happens automatically every month. You do not have to remember to maintain a balance or monitor your account on a specific date.

Direct deposit works for Virtual Wallet ($7 fee waived), Performance Select ($15 fee waived), and most other PNC checking accounts. If you change jobs or your benefit payments stop, you need to set up direct deposit from a new source or switch to the balance-maintenance method to keep the fee waived.

If you are self-employed or do not receive regular deposits, direct deposit may not be an option. In that case, the minimum balance route is your only choice, or you can switch to eChecking and accept the lack of interest income.

Switching accounts or closing accounts to reduce fees

If you are paying fees on an account that does not fit your situation, PNC allows you to switch to a different account type without closing and reopening. You can move from Performance Select to Virtual Wallet, for example, which lowers the monthly fee from $15 to $7 and reduces the balance requirement from $2,000 to $500. You can make this change through PNC's website, mobile app, or by visiting a branch.

Switching accounts takes effect when ready. Your old account closes and a new one opens with a new account number. Any scheduled transfers or bill payments linked to the old account number will fail, so you need to update those before you switch. PNC will not automatically update external services that pull from your account.

If you decide PNC's fee structure does not work for you, closing the account is straightforward. You can do it online, by phone, or in person. Make sure your balance is zero or positive before you close—if you have a negative balance, PNC will deduct it from another account you hold with them, or send it to collections if you have no other accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does PNC waive fees if I keep a certain balance in my savings account instead of checking?

For Performance Select checking, yes—a linked savings account with $500 waives the $15 fee. For Virtual Wallet checking, no—you need the $500 in the checking account itself or direct deposit. The rules are different for each account type, so check your account details or call PNC to confirm which method applies to you.

What if I get direct deposit but my balance still drops below the minimum?

Direct deposit waives the monthly fee regardless of your balance. Once direct deposit is set up, the fee does not post even if your balance is $0 or negative. However, you may face overdraft fees if your balance goes negative, which are separate from the monthly maintenance fee.

Can I switch from Performance Select to Virtual Wallet to lower my fees?

Yes. You can change account types through PNC's website, app, or a branch visit. The change takes effect when ready and you get a new account number. Update any bill payments or external transfers linked to your old account number before you switch, or they will fail.

Does PNC charge a fee to switch checking accounts?

PNC does not charge a fee to switch between account types within the bank. However, if you close your account entirely and later reopen one, PNC may review your banking history. There is no stated penalty, but some banks do flag accounts that are opened and closed frequently.

What if I cannot maintain the minimum balance or set up direct deposit?

Switch to eChecking, which has no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement. You will not earn interest on your balance, but you will avoid fees entirely. This account is designed for people who want basic checking without the cost.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.