PNC Overdraft Fees and Policies
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What happens when you overdraw your PNC checking account? That depends on the type of transaction and whether you have any optional overdraft services.
Here’s a look at PNC’s overdraft policies.
» MORE: Read the full review of PNC Bank
How does PNC Bank handle overdrafts?
Though PNC can charge a fee when customers overdraft, the bank also offers multiple ways to avoid overdraft fees as well as a grace period for customers to replenish their checking account before they’re charged a fee. Here are the details of PNC’s overdraft fee and Extra Time service:
A maximum of one $36 overdraft fee per business day for consumers accounts, except for Foundation Checking.
No nonsufficient funds fee.
At least 24 hours to bring your Spend account balance to a minimum of $0. If you’re able to bring up your balance before your Extra Time ends, then you won’t be charged an overdraft fee.
PNC normally declines these types of transactions without a charge if your balance is too low:
ATM transactions.
One-time debit card transactions.
»MORE: Best banks for overdrafts
Optional service: PNC Overdraft Coverage
If you want PNC to pay overdrafts on ATM and debit card transactions on a case-by-case basis, you must opt in to Overdraft Coverage.
To sign up for this service, call 1-877-588-3605, go to pnc.com/overdraftsolutions or change your overdraft settings in your online account. You can reverse your decision anytime.
Standard overdraft fees still apply.
Optional service: PNC Overdraft Protection
If you select this service, you can link one of these accounts to your PNC checking account:
A secondary PNC checking account.
A PNC savings or money market account.
A PNC credit card.
A PNC personal line of credit.
The linked account provides backup for your primary checking account. When your balance is too low, PNC automatically transfers funds to your checking account from the linked account — as long as that account has funds available. PNC doesn’t charge a fee for overdraft protection transfers.
If you link a PNC credit card or personal line of credit, PNC will round up the amount needed to the nearest dollar and transfer a minimum of $50. That amount is subject to interest.
» Looking for other checking options? Check out our list of the best checking accounts
PNC’s $5 safety buffer
PNC allows a $5 margin of error. If you’re overdrawn by $5 or less, PNC will refund any› overdraft fees.
Also, if you overdraw your account but then deposit enough money to be within the $5 margin by the end of the business day, you won’t be penalized. PNC will automatically refund any overdraft fees.
Overdraft policies for PNC Virtual Wallet
Virtual Wallet comes with the Overdraft Protection service if you set it up with the Spend account. PNC automatically links your Virtual Wallet Spend checking account to your “Reserve” short-term savings account for overdraft purposes.
The Spend account is also linked to your “Growth” long-term savings account, which serves as a secondary overdraft account in case neither Spend nor Reserve has enough to cover an item.
Reserve and Growth accounts don’t have Overdraft Coverage or Overdraft Protection.
