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PNC Personal Loan Review: Low Minimum Loan Amounts That Can Be Quickly Retired

Review Updated
Dana George
By: Dana George
Dana George
Dana George
Writer

Dana George has a BA in Management and Organization Development from Spring Arbor University. For more than 25 years, she has written and reported on business and finance, and she's still passionate about her work. Dana and her husband recently moved to Champaign, Illinois, home of the Fighting Illini. And though she finds the color orange unflattering on most people, she thinks they'll enjoy Champaign tremendously.

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Our Loans Expert

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If you're searching for a small to medium loan, take a closer look at PNC personal loans. PNC boasts a low minimum loan amount -- perfect for financing minor home repairs or other expenses. In this PNC personal loans review, we'll cover the bank's unsecured loans, how PNC allows customers to add a joint borrower, and its wide range of repayment options.

PNC Bank Personal Loan

Logo for PNC Bank Personal Loan
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Minimum Credit Score
Loan Amounts
$1,000 - $35,000
APR Range
7.49% - 15.54%
Term Length
6 - 60 months

At PNC, the maximum loan limit is low, but so is the minimum, making it easier to borrow only what you need.

  • Low minimum loan amount
  • Short loan term if desired
  • Joint applicant allowed
  • No origination or prepayment fee
  • Lowest interest rate applies to the highest loan amounts
  • Terms depend on the applicant's zip code
  • Loan can only be used for specific purposes

Compare the best personal loans

Get the best rates and terms to fit your needs. Here are a few loans we'd like to highlight, including our award winners.

Lender APR Range Loan Amount Min. Credit Score Next Steps
7.80% - 35.99%
$1,000 - $50,000
None
11.49% - 20.49%
$2,000 - $30,000
720
6.99%-25.49% (w/ AutoPay)*
$5,000 - $100,000
Good credit

Full PNC personal loan review

This personal loan is a good fit for: The borrower searching for a small loan with short repayment terms.

Pros

  • Low minimum loan amount
  • Short loan term if desired
  • Joint applicant allowed
  • No origination or prepayment fee

Cons

  • Lowest interest rate applies to the highest loan amounts
  • Terms depend on the applicant's zip code
  • Loan can only be used for specific purposes

Top perks

Low minimum loan amount

Customers can borrow $1,000 to $35,000. That minimum loan amount of $1,000 is unusual in the personal loan industry. A low minimum threshold means you can get the cash you need to cover small emergencies without being tied down to a larger loan.

Wide range of repayment terms

You have between 6 and 60 months to repay the loan. There are pros and cons to longer repayment terms, so this flexibility allows you to customize your term to your situation.. With PNC, you have the option of designing a repayment plan that fits your monthly budget.

Joint applicants welcome

Whether you need a joint applicant's high credit score to qualify for a lower loan interest rate or someone has decided to co-assume responsibility for a personal loan, PNC allows for joint applicants.

What could be improved

Terms depend on location

The first thing you will be asked is where you live. On its loan homepage, PNC states that "PNC product and feature availability varies by location." While this may be good news for borrowers in some areas of the country, it could be bad for others. You'll need to see what it means for you.

Lowest interest rate reserved

If you're looking to borrow enough to make repairs to your roof or buy a new furnace, you might not borrow enough to qualify for PNC's lowest advertised interest rate. That's because that low interest rate is reserved for those borrowing more money. For example, PNC will automatically assign a $5,000 loan a higher interest rate than a $15,000 loan.

How to Qualify for a PNC loan

PNC does not offer a minimum credit score needed to qualify for a personal loan. Nevertheless, it's safe to say the higher your credit score, the better. Borrowers with the highest credit scores qualify for the most favorable interest rates and terms. Generally, here's what you'll need to be eligible for a PNC loan:

  • A credit score that meets the PNC minimum
  • An acceptable debt-to-income ratio
  • Be at least 18 years old (19 in Nebraska, Mississippi, or Alabama)
  • Proof of income

While PNC does not share the minimum credit score needed to get an unsecured personal loan, it does offer those with low credit the option of taking out a secured loan.

Application process

Here's how to get a loan at PNC:

  1. Fill out an application online, by phone, or at a PNC branch.
  2. Provide information such as your name, address, date of birth, what the loan is for, and how much you would like to borrow.
  3. PNC verifies your identity by asking for a copy of your driver's license or other official document.
  4. PNC runs a soft credit check (that will not impact your credit score).
  5. Next, PNC tells you if you qualify for a loan, and if so, what your interest rate is.
  6. If you proceed with the loan, PNC runs a hard credit check to ensure everything is accurate.
  7. PNC gives you loan papers to sign.
  8. Funds are distributed within one to two business days.

This PNC personal loan is right for you if:

  • The loan terms in your area are attractive
  • You want a loan with no origination or prepayment fees
  • You want to borrow a small to medium amount of money
  • You want or need a joint applicant

No matter how quickly you need money, take the time to rate shop. The best personal loan lenders run a soft credit check before offering a decision and interest rate. That way, when you decide which lender to go with, you'll know you're getting the best loan possible.