PNC Foundation Checking Account 2025 Review

PNC Foundation Checking is a basic checking account with essential features to help you manage your money without overdraft fees. This account has no monthly service fee if you're 62 or older. 

Traditional banks might be the first place you look for a new checking account. PNC Foundation Checking offers the convenience of online and mobile banking, with access to in-person banking services at PNC branches. You can also withdraw cash and manage your account at ATMs nationwide. 

You might consider banking with PNC if you:

• Are opening a checking account for the first time
• Prefer to keep your money at a brick-and-mortar bank
• Would like a checking account with no overdraft fees
• Are interested in a bank that offers free financial education tools

You'll need to open your account at a PNC branch. There's no minimum deposit requirement. PNC offers a variety of other checking accounts to meet your needs, as well as savings accounts and CDs.

Compared to Other Checking Accounts

Popular Bank Everyday Checking

Popular Bank Everyday Checking is easy and convenient, with a $25 opening deposit requirement and in-person banking services. This account has a monthly maintenance fee but you can avoid it by meeting minimum balance and direct deposit requirements. You can also withdraw cash at more than 55,000 ATMs. . 

Read our full editorial review of the Popular Bank Everyday Checking account

Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Account

Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance is a simple bank account for people who don't need to write paper checks. Anyone can open this account but it's great for students since the monthly maintenance fee is waived for people under 25. You'll pay no overdraft fees as this account automatically blocks transactions that would put your account balance in the negative. 

Read our full editorial review of the Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Account

State Farm Checking Account

State Farm is mostly known for its insurance business but you can also open a checking account here. State Farm Checking is accessible at U.S. Bank branches and ATMs or online and you can choose from two options: Smartly Checking or Safe Debit, which has no overdraft fees. Safe Debit has a monthly overdraft fee and doesn't offer paper checks. 

Read our full editorial review of the State Farm Checking account

TD Complete Checking

TD Complete Checking is made for everyone and has no minimum opening deposit requirement. There's a monthly fee but you have three ways to waive it; the fee is waived automatically for students aged 17 to 23. You can link a TD Bank savings account to fund your financial goals and get paid up to two days early with direct deposit. 

Read our full editorial review of the TD Complete Checking account

Interest and Rewards

Rewards checking accounts pay you back a percentage of what you spend, earn interest on balances, or both. Those kinds of benefits can instantly make your checking account more valuable. 

PNC Foundation Checking is not a rewards checking account. Whether that's a dealbreaker depends on why you're opening a new checking account. 

If you want a straightforward way to deposit paychecks, pay bills, and spend then Foundation Checking can do all of that for you. You could link a PNC Bank savings account to keep money you don't plan to spend right away. 

Does PNC pay the best interest rate for savers? Not really, but that's characteristic of most traditional banks.

If you're looking for top-tier rates with a rewards checking account or high-yield savings account, you may want to check out the best online banks instead. 

Fees

Traditional banks tend to be heavier on fees than online banks but you can find exceptions. PNC Foundation lacks some of the high fees you might pay with a different checking account. 

Here's a look at the fees that apply to Foundation Checking.

Other Service Fees - PNC Foundation Checking Account

The main fee to be aware of is the monthly maintenance fee. While $5 might not seem like much it can add up over time. 

You can avoid the fee if you're 62 or older. The fee is also waived for PNC employees. 

Branch and ATM Access

PNC Bank has around 2,500 branches in 28 states and the District of Columbia. You can withdraw cash at approximately 60,000 fee-free ATMs. 

PNC offers a unique mobile banking feature for people who need cash but don't have their debit card handy. You can generate a one-time code in the PNC Bank mobile app that you can use at ATMs to complete transitions even if your card isn't physically present. 

You can deposit checks at PNC ATMs. For a fee, you can make those deposits accessible right away. 

PNC Advanced ATMs offer video banking services. If you need help from a branch consultant, you can use video banking to connect with a live person. 

Account Access

In addition to branches and ATMs, PNC offers online and mobile banking. If you need to deposit funds to your account, you can use any of the following:

• ACH transfer
• Direct deposit
• Wire transfer
• Mobile check deposit
• Check deposits at ATMs or branches
• Cash deposits at branches

You also have access to online bill pay services through your checking account. There's no fee to use bill pay services. 

PNC is a Zelle partner, which means you can use it to send and receive payments instantly. You'll need to log in to online or mobile banking to check your Zelle transfer limits. 

FDIC Insurance

PNC Foundation Checking is an FDIC-insured account. The FDIC insures banks to protect depositors against losses if a financial institution fails. 

The current FDIC coverage limit is $250,000 per depositor, per financial institution. This coverage is automatic; there's nothing you need to do to enroll. 

What You Need to Open

You can open a Foundation Checking account at a PNC branch near you. You'll need to complete a new account application and fill in some basic information, including your:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Social Security number
• Mailing address
• Email address
• Phone number

There's no minimum deposit to open an account but if you plan to make a deposit you can do so via check or cash. This account is designed for people 18 and older; if you're looking for a teen checking account PNC Bank offers Student Checking for high school and college students. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PNC Bank a good bank?

PNC Bank is a legitimate bank and one of the largest banks in the U.S. Whether you find it to be a "good" bank depends on what you're looking for. PNC rates well for its wide variety of banking products and extensive ATM network. When comparing any traditional banking option, consider the fees you'll pay and how convenient it is for you. 

How can you avoid overdraft fees?

The simplest way to avoid overdraft fees is to open a checking account that doesn't charge them. PNC Foundation Checking is just one example of a traditional checking account that doesn't penalize you with overdraft fees. You can also avoid overdraft by monitoring your account balance and opting in to overdraft protection at your bank. 

Is an online checking account good?

Online checking accounts can offer some advantages, including lower or no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and low opening deposit requirements. Some online checking accounts earn interest or pay you back rewards which makes them more appealing. The biggest drawback of online checking accounts is the lack of branch banking access.