PNC foreign transaction fees: Complete guide

Foreign transaction fees are extra charges that appear on your statement when you spend money outside of the US or in foreign currencies. For example, a 100 USD dinner in Paris would cost you 105 USD with a 5% foreign transaction fee.

PNC Bank applies these fees to most of their debit and credit cards. The typical fee is 3% of your purchase amount, which gets added to your statement in USD. You'll also often have to pay extra charges when using international ATMs.

These extra fees can add up quickly and stretch your travel budget. Understanding PNC international fees can help you become more informed and potentially minimize or avoid them. You'll learn everything you need to know in this guide.

We’ll also introduce Wise, an alternative allowing you to open a multi-currency account to send, spend, and convert money like a local.

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Table of contents
Does PNC charge foreign transaction fees? Which PNC cards have foreign transaction fees? PNC debit card fees PNC credit card fees Everywhere money. Meet Wise: the world's most international account How do I avoid foreign transaction fees? PNC credit cards with no foreign transaction fees What are PNC's international ATM fees? PNC international exchange rates Tips for using ATMs and cards abroad

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Does PNC charge foreign transaction fees?

Yes, PNC applies foreign transaction fees to most accounts. These fees appear whenever you buy something in foreign currency, use your card while traveling abroad, or shop on international websites.

🚨 If you're a PNC customer, you should know that a 3% foreign transaction fee applies to most PNC checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as most credit cards.

PNC Cash Unlimited® Visa Signature® Credit Card is the only credit card that comes with no foreign transaction fees.¹

Overall, spending money internationally with PNC is likely going to come with steep charges.

Which PNC cards have foreign transaction fees?

PNC applies foreign transaction fees to most of their banking products, but there are a couple of notable exceptions. Here's what you need to know.

PNC debit card fees

If you've been Googling, "Can I use my PNC debit card internationally?", the answer is yes, but it'll likely come with fees.

When you use your PNC debit card abroad, you'll typically encounter two types of fees:

• a foreign transaction fee for purchases
• additional charges for ATM withdrawals

Most PNC debit cards charge these fees, but Performance Select Checking accounts don't have to pay the ATM fees.²

Here are the PNC debit card international fees that you can expect.²

Card account	Foreign transaction fees	Other fees
Checking, savings, and Money Market accounts	3% on each international purchase	3 USD ATM fee in Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands 5 USD ATM fee in all other countries
Performance Select Checking	3% on each international purchase	0 USD ATM fees

🚨 Foreign ATMs often charge their own fees on top of PNC's charges. These ATM operator fees vary by country and bank, and PNC has no control over them.

PNC credit card fees

Does PNC charge international fees on credit cards? Yes, most PNC credit cards include foreign transaction fees. There's only one option that avoids these charges - more on that later.

Here are the PNC credit card international fees that you can expect.

Card	Foreign transaction fees	Other fees
PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card³	3% on each international purchase	10 USD or 5% cash advance fee
PNC Core® Visa® Credit Card⁴	3% on each international purchase	10 USD or 5% cash advance fee
PNC Points® Visa® Credit Card⁵	3% on each international purchase	10 USD or 5% cash advance fee

💡 Remember that credit cards also often come with annual fees and other charges.

Everywhere money. Meet Wise: the world's most international account

If you’re not living in the US — or if you simply want a more flexible account you can open from anywhere — check out Wise.

Wise isn’t a bank, but a money service business (MSB) that offers an account which allows you to hold, send and receive money. As well as getting an attached multi-currency card — plus you’ll get some extra perks which suit anyone living an international lifestyle.

You’ll be able to hold 40+ currencies, and get local account details for up to 9 currencies including USD, to get paid easily by wire or ACH.

Wise offers linked multi-currency cards for spending and withdrawals around the world, and all currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate.

That means that whenever you send a payment or spend in a foreign currency your dollars are converted with the mid-market rate with low conversion fees from 0.41%. Easy.

This way to easy
international payments

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

How do I avoid foreign transaction fees?

It's not always possible to fully avoid foreign transaction fees, but here are a few strategies that can help you keep more of your money when traveling abroad:

• Consider a travel-focused card: Some credit cards don't have foreign transaction fees and come with extra travel perks like airport lounge access or travel insurance. PNC only has one credit card without foreign transaction fees - PNC Cash Unlimited® Visa Signature® Credit Card - but other banks and providers have more options¹

• Exchange currency at your home bank: You can get foreign currency from PNC before your trip. You'll still pay an exchange rate markup, but you'll avoid ATM fees and have cash ready for when you land

• Pay in local currency: When you're given the choice between paying in USD or local currency, always choose local currency. Merchants' currency conversion rates usually include high markups

• Think about your destination: Some countries primarily use cash, and in others, cards are more popular. Research what the spending situation is in your destination and plan accordingly

Being strategic and planning ahead can save you hundreds in foreign transaction fees.

PNC credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

PNC only offers one credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees - PNC Cash Unlimited® Visa Signature® Credit Card.¹ If you often travel internationally, this could be a decent money-saving option for your purchases.

However, this card does charge 10 USD or 5% in cash advance fees.¹

What are PNC's international ATM fees?

PNC international ATM fees depend on your location and account type. Using the ATM in Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands is less expensive than in other countries.

Here's what to expect:

Location	PNC international ATM fee
Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands²	3 USD
All other countries²	5 USD
Credit card cash advances¹³⁴⁵	10 USD or 5%

💡 If you have a Performance Select Checking, PNC will waive your international ATM fees.

Watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) at foreign ATMs. When you try to withdraw money, the ATM might offer to convert your transaction to USD instead of local currency. This might seem helpful, but DCC usually includes poor exchange rates and hidden fees.

PNC international exchange rates

When you spend money abroad, PNC converts your purchases using the mid-market exchange rate plus a markup. You might check Google to see that 1 USD equals 0.92 EUR, but the rate you get from PNC will be less favorable (but it won’t necessarily be obvious when you make your purchase).

People often miss these markups because they're added automatically, and they can cost you. For example, if you spend 100 EUR at a restaurant, you might expect to pay 109 USD based on the market rate, but end up being charged 112 USD or more after PNC's exchange rate markup.

The worst thing about this is that you may not even notice the markup until you see your statement. So, it's important to educate yourself and be aware of how international exchange rates work.

Tips for using ATMs and cards abroad

Preparing to use ATMs and cards abroad can help you avoid unnecessary fees and hassles. Here are a few tips.

• Avoid airport ATMs: They typically charge higher fees than ATMs at local banks

• Bundle your ATM withdrawals: Instead of making frequent small withdrawals, take out larger amounts less often. This reduces the number of ATM fees you'll have to pay

• Know your daily limits: Check your withdrawal and purchase limits before leaving - they might be lower abroad

• Set travel notices: Tell PNC about your travel plans through online banking to prevent card blocks (PNC might think that it's suspicious that you're suddenly spending money abroad)

While you're abroad, save receipts and keep track of your spending in PNC's mobile app to quickly report any transactions that you don't recognize.

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PNC charges standard foreign transaction fees on most of its debit and credit cards.

You can expect to pay 3% on every international purchase when using your card and 3 to 5 USD for ATM withdrawals overseas.

The Performance Select Checking account waives ATM fees, and the Cash Unlimited® Visa Signature® card doesn't have any foreign transaction fees, but using PNC cards abroad will still involve some costs through exchange rate markups and ATM operator fees.

Multi-currency made easy: get a Wise Account

The Wise Account lets you:

Get local details to receive money in 9 different currencies Spend like a local in over 150 countries with the Wise Multi-Currency Card Send money across currencies with the mid-market exchange rate Hold and convert money in 40+ currencies Manage your money online with the Wise app or website Opt in to receive annual percentage yield (APY) on your USD balance with Wise’s account interest feature (subject to change, certain limitations apply — see Program Agreement for more information)

Get a Wise Account
in minutes!

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Sources

1. PNC - PNC Cash Unlimited® Visa Signature® Credit Card fees
2. PNC - Consumer schedule of service charges and fees
3. PNC - PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card fees
4. PNC - PNC Core® Visa® Credit Card fees
5. PNC - PNC Points® Visa® Credit Card fees

Sources checked 02/06/2025