Our Verdict
Chase takes the crown as the overall winner of this comparison. Be aware now that Chase is the better bank for personal credit cards than PNC, especially if you are a frequent traveler or value flexibility and variety in your rewards. Chase offers more options and benefits for travel rewards cards than PNC and has a larger network of branches and ATMs than PNC. However, if you are looking for a straightforward cash back or points card with no annual fee, then PNC may be a better choice for you than Chase. PNC offers unlimited cash back or points on all purchases with its credit cards, and also offers personal loans and lines of credit, which Chase does not. Here are the reasons why you should choose Chase personal credit card
- Choose Chase personal credit card if you want to travel the world with ease and comfort.
- Choose Chase personal credit card if you want to have more options and variety in your rewards.
- Choose Chase’s personal credit card if you want to enjoy the benefits of a large and reliable bank.
- Choose Chase’s personal credit card if you want to get more value for your money.
- Choose Chase’s personal credit card if you want to be part of a loyal and satisfied customer base.
Why Choose Chase Credit Card
Who Chase Credit Card Is Best For
Check if any of the options below apply to you. Choose Chase credit card if:
- You are a frequent traveler who wants to earn and redeem rewards for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.
- You are a savvy shopper who wants to maximize your cash back or points on everyday purchases.
- You are a loyal customer of a specific brand or partner that offers co-branded cards with Chase
- You are looking for a simple and low-cost card that offers basic features and benefits.
- You are looking for a reliable and reputable bank that offers excellent customer service and support.
Who Chase Credit Card Is Not Right For
Avoid Chase credit card if:
- You are looking for a high-interest savings account or a personal loan.
- You are looking for a simple and straightforward cash back or points card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee.
- You are looking for a credit card that offers a long introductory 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers.
- You are looking for a credit card that offers a low regular APR after the introductory period.
- You are looking for a credit card that offers unique or niche benefits or rewards.
Why Choose PNC Credit Card
Who PNC Credit Card Is Best For
Consider a PNC credit card if:
- You desire a savings account for children or a personal loan or line of credit.
- You need a simple and straightforward cash back or points card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee.
- You prefer a credit card that offers a long introductory 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers.
- You like a credit card that offers a low regular APR after the introductory period.
- You want a reliable and reputable bank that offers excellent customer service and support.
Who PNC Credit Card Is Not Right For
Avoid PNC credit card if:
- You are a frequent traveler who wants to earn and redeem rewards for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.
- You are a savvy shopper who wants to have more options and variety in your rewards.
- You are looking for a high-interest savings account or a CD.
- You want a credit card that offers unique or niche benefits or rewards.
- You prefer a credit card that offers a high credit limit or a low minimum payment.
Chase vs PNC Credit Cards: Main Differences
Ideal For
Know that a Chase credit card is ideal for you if you are a traveler, shopper, or a loyal customer of a specific brand that is co-branded with Chase. Chase personal credit card is popular for its travel rewards and other bonuses such as sign-up bonuses, and flexible redemption. Choose PNC if you want innovative credit card options that offer unlimited cash back or points on all purchases, and no annual fees.
Pricing
Understand that Chase credit cards have annual fees that range between $25 to $550 while PNC offers no annual fee on its credit cards. Likewise, know that Chase has a higher APR that ranges between 15.99% to 22.99%, while PNC offers APR that is as low as 11.99% to 21.99%. In addition, Chase only offers 0% introductory APR for 15 months, while PNC offers its own for 21 months. Both banks also deduct 5% on balance transfers.
Account Integrations
Chase offers Chase QuickPay with Zelle, which allows you to send and receive money from anyone with a U.S. bank account, while PNC offers PNC Virtual Wallet, which allows you to manage your money through a digital interface bank. Do you even know Chase has a larger network of branches and ATMs than PNC, with over 4,800 branches and 16,000 ATMs in 48 states? PNC has about 2,000 branches and 9,000 ATMs in 19 states—mostly in the Midwestern and East Coast regions.
Standout Features
You can conclude that Chase is better than PNC for travel rewards and co-branded cards, while PNC is better than Chase for low-cost and low-interest cards. However, know that this decision largely depends on your preferences for simplicity and low cost versus higher cash-back rates on specific categories.
Chase vs PNC Credit Cards: Standout Features
Chase Credit Cards Standout Features
- Offers some of the best cash-back cards in the market, such as the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, which offer unlimited cash back on all purchases.
- Gives some of the best travel perks in the market, such as no foreign transaction fees, trip cancellation insurance, airport lounge access, and more.
- Gives you one of the best security features in the market, such as Zero Liability Protection.
- Offers you some of the most valuable cards in the market, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which have high annual fees ($95 and $550 respectively), but also offer generous sign-up bonuses (80,000 and 60,000 points respectively).
PNC Credit Cards Standout Features
- Offers flexible rates.
- Gives you affordable pricing.
- Offers excellent customer service support.
- Offers some of the best point cards in the market.
- Provides some of the best cash-back cards in the market.
Chase vs PNC Credit Cards: Savings Account
PNC comes out on top in this section as it offers you a higher savings rate of 0.50% APY, while Chase only gives you 0.01% APY. Both banks charge the same monthly fee of $5.
Chase vs PNC Credit Cards: Checking Account
PNC wins in this section as it offers a lower monthly fee of $7 and a welcome bonus of $300 to new customers, while Chase deducts $12 monthly fees and only gives $200 as a welcome bonus.
Chase Credit Card Pros and Cons
- Pros
- Offers generous sign-up bonuses, flexible redemption options, and valuable travel perks for frequent travelers.
- Offers a wide range of cashback and points cards, with different earning rates and bonus categories.
- Offers excellent customer service and support.
- Cons
- has high annual fees, which can be hard to justify for some consumers.
- Has a strict approval procedure.
- Has complicated rewards and benefits.
PNC Credit Card Pros and Cons
- Pros
- Offers unlimited cash back or points on all purchases, and bonus cash back or points on select categories, such as gas stations, dining, grocery stores, and more.
- Offers some unique features and benefits for their customers, such as the Virtual Wallet service, which allows you to manage your money through a digital interface that includes a Spend account (checking), a Reserve account (short-term savings), and a Growth account (long-term savings)
- Offers excellent customer service and support.
- Cons
- Has low annual caps on their competitive rewards rates.
- Does not offer any travel rewards cards, unlike some other banks that offer competitive travel rewards cards with generous sign-up bonuses, flexible redemption options, and valuable travel perks. If you are a frequent traveler or value flexibility and variety in your rewards, you may not find PNC credit cards very appealing.
Chase vs PNC Credit Cards: Customer Reviews
No absolute winner in this section. The two issuers have an A+ rating on Better Business Bureau’s website. In the same manner, they both earn 1.3 stars on Trustpilot out of the 5 stars. Nonetheless, ConsumerAffairs rates PNC with 3.6 stars out of possible 5 stars, while Chase only settles for 1.2 stars out of five.
Chase credit cards receive praise for its generous sign-up bonuses, flexible redemption options, and valuable travel perks for frequent travelers. For instance, one of the sources says that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a $750 value when you redeem it for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. You can also enjoy zero foreign transaction fees and trip cancellation insurance. In addition, Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers you unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus bonus cash back on select categories.
PNC on the other hand, receives praise for its unlimited cash back or points on all purchases, and bonus cash back or points on select categories, such as gas stations, dining, grocery stores, and more.
Chase and PNC Credit Cards Competitors
Capital One
Choose Capital One as an alternative option if you still want an issuer that offers a wide range of credit cards for different purposes, such as cashback, travel rewards, balance transfers, business, and more.
With the Capital One credit card, you can get generous sign-up bonuses, no foreign transaction fees, and low or no annual fees. Some of the popular Capital One credit cards are the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, and the Capital One Spark Cash for Business.
American Express
Settle for an American Express personal credit card to secure access to a variety of credit cards for different purposes, such as cashback, travel rewards, balance transfers, business, and others. You can enjoy offers such as flexible redemption options, valuable travel perks, and high customer satisfaction. Some of the popular American Express credit cards are the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card, and the Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Discover
Go for this issuer to have access to a variety of credit cards for different purposes, such as cashback, travel rewards, balance transfers, student, etc. Discover credit cards can give you high cash-back rates, no annual fees, and generous introductory offers. Some of the popular Discover credit cards are the Discover it® Cash Back, the Discover it® Miles, and the Discover it® Student Cash Back.
Pro Tips
Here are some possible pro tips you can follow to choose a good credit card between Chase and PNC.
- Check your credit score and report before applying for a credit card. Your credit score and report determine which cards you are eligible for and how likely you are to get the approval.
- Identify which type of credit card you need based on your spending habits and goals.
- Compare the features, benefits, and fees of the credit cards offered by Chase and PNC. You must shop around and compare different cards that offer the features, benefits, and fees that suit your needs.
- Choose a credit card that offers the best value and flexibility for you. Weigh the pros and cons of each card and decide which one offers the best value and flexibility for you.
Recap
What are you looking for? What do you need? If you are looking for a credit card that offers generous sign-up bonuses, flexible redemption options, and valuable travel perks, choose Chase over PNC. If you are looking for a credit card that offers unlimited cash back or points on all purchases, and bonus cash back or points on select categories, such as gas stations, dining, grocery stores, and more, choose PNC over Chase.
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