At a glance: PNC mortgage options

PNC is a large national bank based in Pittsburgh. Home loans are available nationwide. Some specialty products (like construction loans and PNC’s home equity line of credit) aren’t available in all states, so you’ll want to read the fine print on the lender’s website.

» MORE: How to choose a mortgage lender

PNC Bank special offers and discounts

PNC offers several ways to make homebuying more affordable. They include:

• Grant assistance: Borrowers who meet income and location requirements could qualify for a Low Income Grant (up to $2,500); a Low-to-Moderate Income Borrower Grant (from $3,000 to $5,000); or a larger PNC Grant (from $5,000 to $15,000).

• Discount points: PNC provides a 1% pricing promotion (up to $8,065) for qualifying borrowers in the form of discount points. The funds can be used toward a down payment, closing costs, escrow payment or to lower the interest rate.

• PNC Community Loan: For low-income borrowers in certain locations, this loan requires just 3% down with no private mortgage insurance.

» MORE: Down payment assistance: How it works, where to find it

What does PNC Bank specialize in?

A lender’s experience with your loan type can make a big difference. We looked at the latest federal data to find the types of mortgages PNC Bank handles most often. Most of its purchase loans are conventional, but PNC Bank also handles a decent amount of jumbo loans, too.

How we score PNC Bank mortgage

Each year, NerdWallet writers and editors dig into the latest data and independent research on mortgage lending. Then, we rate lenders based on categories that matter most to mortgage borrowers.

PNC has a NerdWallet home loans rating of five stars overall. Here’s a breakdown of this year’s score.

• The Nerdy details: Our rating system, explainedThe Nerdy details: Our rating system, explained

  Ah, so you’re the “read the fine print” type? We got you. Here’s how our scoring rubric works.

  Average mortgage rates and fees (30%)

  We review federal data (as reported by the lenders) and analyze mortgage lenders’ average fees and interest rates across all loan types. Lenders with the lowest average costs get the highest star ratings. Keep in mind: Loans that are easier to qualify for, like FHA loans, usually have higher rates and fees because lenders see them as a higher risk. Pro tip: Paying some fees upfront can sometimes lower your interest rate.

  Mortgage rate transparency (25%)

  We look at how easy it is to compare mortgage rates online. Lenders get higher transparency ratings if they show sample rates on their website. (Not all lenders do!) The best ratings go to lenders that offer interactive tools that let you customize a rate quote on your own.

  Variety of loan types (25%)

  There’s no one-size-fits-all mortgage. Lenders earn top ratings in this category when they offer a large variety of mortgage types. The more variety, the higher their score. A lender earns points for purchase and refinance; fixed and adjustable rates; FHA, VA or USDA loans; renovation or construction loans; and home equity loans or HELOCs.

  Customer experience (20%)

  How easy is it to work with this lender? Top-rated lenders offer helpful features like online applications, multiple ways to get support, a user-friendly mobile app and clear updates about the loan closing timeline.

PNC Bank bonus points

PNC earned bonus points for assisting first-time home buyers, offering conventional loans for manufactured homes and providing options for borrowers with credit scores as low as 600.

» MORE: How to get the best mortgage rate

PNC Bank mortgage reputation and customer experience

NerdWallet’s star ratings look at objective factors like rates, fees and loan options. To give you a sense of what the borrower experience is really like, we pulled the latest customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power and Zillow and we contacted the lender’s customer support.

PNC Bank mortgage customer service options

Here’s how you can get in touch with PNC. Branches are available in 27 states and Washington, D.C.

» MORE: How to apply for a mortgage

Alternatives to a PNC Bank mortgage

Our biggest tip: Get offers from at least three different mortgage lenders. Comparison shopping can save you thousands of dollars. You can get rate quotes yourself, or work with a mortgage broker to shop around on your behalf.

Northpointe Bank also offers down payment assistance to qualified first-time home buyers, as well as repeat buyers who haven’t owned a home in the past three years.

If you’re looking for a jumbo loan, Chase is also highly rated for jumbo loans and has 5,000 branches nationwide.

» MORE: Best mortgage lenders for first-time home buyers

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