PNC Bank Mortgage Review 2023

What borrowers say about PNC mortgage

NerdWallet’s lender star ratings assess objective qualities, including rates, fees and loan offerings. To assess borrowers’ subjective experiences with lenders, NerdWallet has gathered customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and Zillow. 

• PNC Bank receives a 732 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study. The industry average for origination is 716. (Mortgage origination covers the initial application through closing day.) 

• PNC Bank receives 610 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study. The industry average for servicing is 607. (A mortgage servicer handles loan payments.)

• PNC Bank receives a customer rating of 4.95 out of 5 on Zillow, as of the date of publication. The score reflects more than 2,875 customer reviews.

PNC mortgage variety of loan types

• 5 of 5 stars

PNC Bank offers fixed-rate mortgages with terms of 10, 15, 20 and 30 years as well as adjustable-rate mortgages. Government-backed mortgages — FHA, USDA and VA home loans — are on the menu, but the bulk of the loans PNC originates are conventional loans, including jumbo mortgages.

Among its conventional loan offerings is the PNC Community Loan, which requires a down payment as low as 3% and minimal cash reserves. Borrowers may use gift money as part of the down payment. The program is for low- to moderate-income borrowers. PNC also offers a $5,000 grant to help with closing costs in certain markets. The lender’s medical professional loan of up to $1 million is geared toward interns, residents, fellows or doctors who completed their residencies in the past five years. Gift money may be part of the down payment.

» MORE: Best mortgage lenders for jumbo loans

PNC Bank HELOC 

The lender also offers a home equity line of credit, or HELOC. These second mortgages are one way for homeowners to access home equity without refinancing or selling their home. Funds obtained with a second mortgage can be used for expenses such as home improvements, education costs or debt consolidation. 

PNC's HELOC offers homeowners the option to borrow money and pay it back on a variable rate or on a fixed rate that can be locked and unlocked at any point during the draw period.

» MORE: Read our review of PNC Bank HELOC

PNC mortgage ease of application

• 5 of 5 stars

PNC has bank branches and mortgage offices in many, but not all, states, so in-person service isn't available everywhere. Customer service representatives are available by phone.

You can start the mortgage application process online or by phone. If you want to speak with someone first, the PNC website offers a tool to find mortgage loan officers in your area.

You can apply for preapproval on the lender's website. The online application asks for basic information, such as your Social Security number, where you're looking for a home, how much you want to borrow and down payment amount. Then you can authorize the lender to verify your employment, income and financial assets electronically and check your credit. Once your mortgage application goes through, you can register for an account to see the status of your application and get updates when your loan hits certain milestones. You can also upload and submit documents as well as send and receive messages with your loan officer and processor.

PNC mortgage rates and fees

• 3 of 5 stars

• PNC Bank earns 3 of 5 stars for average origination fee.

• PNC Bank earns 3 of 5 stars for average mortgage interest rates.

Borrowers should consider the balance between lender fees and mortgage rates. While it's not always the case, paying upfront fees can lower your mortgage interest rate. Some lenders will charge higher upfront fees to lower their advertised interest rate and make it more attractive. Some lenders just charge higher upfront fees.

» MORE: "Should I buy discount points?" calculator

PNC mortgage rate transparency

• 5 of 5 stars

PNC's website displays current interest and annual percentage rates, along with estimated monthly payments, for a variety of loans and terms. You can enter different loan amounts and ZIP codes in the rate quote tool to get customized sample rates according to credit score or down payment amounts. As part of its digital application process, PNC allows borrowers to lock in rates from a mobile device or computer.

Alternatives to PNC mortgage

Here are some comparable lenders we review that borrowers can consider.

Bank of America offers grants and other assistance to home buyers, and Bethpage Federal Credit Union is another strong option for jumbo loans.

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

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