PNC Merchant Services Review

Rates and Fees
88/100
Truth in Advertising
80/100
Consumer Reviews
90/100
Customer Support
78/100
4

Best for

PNC Merchant Services is best for businesses that prefer to use Clover products. PNC Merchant Services has a large selection, including Clover Go, Flex, Mini, and Station. PNC also offers eCommerce solutions that integrate with Clover and 50 other third-party payment terminals.

Specializes in

As a big bank, PNC offers many services beyond payment processing. In fact, PNC can be a one-stop shop for any small business, including services for checking, savings, credit cards and other business banking options. Business owners can also handle their personal finances with PNC, including auto loans, mortgage, retirement planning and investment management.

Pricing Summary

Setup Fee: $0

Monthly Fee: $19.95

Swipe Rate: 2.60%

Keyed-in Rate:  3.45% + $0.15

Early Termination Fee : Up to $900

Contract Terms:

3 Years
Visit PNC Merchant Services

The 1983 merger of PNC Pittsburgh National Corporation and Provident National Corporation created PNC bank. By virtue of this merger, PNC became the largest bank in Pennsylvania. Since then, PNC's management has focused on organic growth, mainly through the expansion of its middle-market corporate business. The company has also grown through the development of its retail business through enhanced online products. The company plans to merge with BBVA USA. Once complete, the merged company will become one of the top five largest banks in the U.S.

The merger will also expand operations from coast to coast, particularly increasing presence in the Western states.

PNC Merchant Services Overview

 

PNC Merchant Services is the merchant services division of PNC Bank, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company operates as a First Data reseller, providing merchant accounts and Clover point-of-sale products.

Small businesses find great convenience in PNC Merchant Services virtual payment system. These payment systems allow them to process credit/debit cards for mail-in, eCommerce- and telephone orders. Reviewers indicate satisfaction with this system. Virtual payments run through PNC Merchant Services website, so no equipment is needed. In addition, PNC Merchant Services manages the website and has the robust cybersecurity features of a large financial institution. Many smaller businesses are better off teaming with a large payment processor rather than implementing their own security protocols, which is highly expensive.

PNC Bank is headquartered at 249 Fifth Avenue, One PNC Plaza, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. Troy Baker serves as the senior vice president and managing director of the division.

 

Quick Facts

Head Quarters

Pittsburgh, PA

Year Founded

1996

CEO

William S. Demchak

Employees

49000

Merchant Provider Risk Tolerance

What We Like

No setup fee.

Offers multiple hardware solutions.

Traditional banking services such as auto loans, mortgages etc. are also available to business customers.

Domestic phone support during business hours.

Checks are accepted as payment.

What We Don't Like

Early termination fee.

Three year contract term.

Poor customer service.

Expensive hardware leases.

Limited pricing information is available online.

Industries Served

  • Clothing & Apparel
  • Convenience Store
  • Education
  • Educational Seminars
  • Electronics
  • Gas Station
  • Healthcare
  • Hunting & Outdoor Equipment
  • Legal
  • Medical
  • Moving Companies
  • Personal Service
  • Property Management
  • Restaurant / Bar
  • SAAS
  • SEO & SEM Services
  • Thrift Store
  • Web Design Services

Business Types Served

  • B2B
  • Ecommerce
  • High Volume
  • Information
  • Low Risk
  • MLM
  • Mobile
  • Mom & Pop
  • MOTO
  • Online
  • Retail / Card Present
  • Small Business
  • Wholesale

PNC Merchant Services Products & Services

 

PNC Merchant Services conducts business as a payment processor reseller. It gets most of its equipment from First Data and offers an extensive Clover selection. The variety of products and available business services make PNC a great choice for business owners who need a full-service banking approach, rather than a payment processor reseller that only provides equipment. PNC offers merchant cash advances and other types of business loans at competitive rates.

Some of the more popular products and services include the following:

Clover Family Package

Clover offers some of the most effective payment processing systems. For those who like the Clover brand, PNC provides a great option.

Mobile Processing

In today's tech-driven world, mobile processing is a must. One day, customers may pay for everything with their phones. PNC provides user-friendly mobile payment processing solutions.

EMV & Contactless Acceptance

With COVID-19 continuing to spread, contactless acceptance has become a key tool in fighting the pandemic. PNC offers its customers this option, which may even be mandatory in some areas. Contactless acceptance goes a long way to preventing the spread of all contagious illnesses, so we can expect the concept to remain prevalent after the COVID-19 crisis abates.

Check acceptance:

It's always important to verify if a check is authentic. PNC bank provides security tools that indicate when it is safe to accept a check.

Internet and eCommerce Package

Between the development of Amazon and the pandemic restrictions, more and more business has moved online. Consumers seem to like this arrangement, so signing up for a PNC Bank internet and eCommerce package is more than just a convenience. It is also a competitive necessity.

Analytics

PNC Bank collects data that helps business owners make wiser decisions. For example, knowing the ratio of visitors to a website to sales inquiries generated by the site provides a window into its effectiveness.

PNC Merchant Services Payment Processing

  • Credit Card Processing
  • Debit Card Processing
  • eCheck & ACH Processing
  • Mobile Payments App
  • Online Payments
  • Payment Gateway
  • POS Equipment
  • Virtual Terminal

PNC Merchant Services Billing & Invoicing

  • Mobile Payments
  • Multi-Currency
  • Online Payments
  • Payment Processing
  • Recurring/Subscription Billing

PNC Merchant Services Advertising & Sales

 
PNC Merchant Services offers its customers the advantage of working with a name brand financial institution. Some merchant services companies only resell POS and other payment processing equipment and employ aggressive sales tactics, often through independent contractor salespeople who have little incentive to ensure a positive experience for customers.  PNC Merchant Services sells through employee salespeople who are incenvtived to protect the company's reputation.

However, no sales department is perfect, and we did locate a dozen online complaints about sales practices. These complaints stemmed from deceptive sales practices, such as nondisclosure of contract terms, misrepresentations of service length, excessive termination fees and unexpected charges. Most complaints were successfully resolved by the company.

PNC Merchant Services appears to be transparent in its advertising materials and even quotes its rates, which is unusually good for this industry. The company offers many promotions, including a $500 sign on bonus for new customers. However, it is still important to read the fine print because certain terms and conditions apply.

 

Truth in Marketing

Discloses All Important Terms

No

Public Pricing Available

No

PNC Merchant Services Pricing, Rates & Fees

 

PNC Merchant Services posts its pricing on its website, which is a big plus in an industry famous for opaque pricing structures. Its latest transaction rates stand at a flat 2.6% for swipes and 3.45% plus $0.15 for keyed-in swipes.

The company does not disclose, however, whether it charges a PCI compliance fee. Reviews show that PNC Merchant Services does charge fees for setup ($395), application and programming. Clients must also agree to a $5 statement fee and $15 to $20 monthly minimum.

Pricing at a Glance

Pricing Model

Tiered Pricing

Swiped Rate

2.60%

Keyed-in Rate

3.45% + $0.15

Mobile Payment Rate

Virtual Terminal Rate

1.89% + $0.23 - 2.90% + $0.30

Monthly Fee

$19.95

Payment Gateway Fee

None

Batch Fee

Undisclosed

Early Termination Fee

Up to $900

PCI Compliance Fee

Undisclosed

Equipment Lease Terms

48 Month (locked)

Address Verification Service (AVS)

Application Fee

$195

Account Setup Fee

$0

Gateway Setup Fee

$90 (Programming Fee)

Annual Fee

Undisclosed

Monthly Minimum

Up to $20

Statement Fee

PNC Merchant Services Contract & Terms

The company does charge high early termination fees. If you cancel before the three-year contract expires, you are liable for liquidated damages. Liquidated damages are the total loss to PNC Merchant Services as a result of the early cancellation. As a result, PNC Merchant Services can charge substantially more than the $495 early termination fee imposed by First Data.

Many customer reviews report unhappiness with the liquidated damages. Some cases cited early-termination charges of close to $1,000.

Contract Length

3 Years

Early Termination Fee

Up to $900

PNC Merchant Services Setup & Support

 

Setup Highlights

  • Documentation / Knowledge Base

Support Highlights

  • Domestic Phone Support (Business Hours)
  • Offshore Tech Support (After Hours)

PNC Merchant Services Complaints, Ratings & Reviews

PNC Merchant Services has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received 0 complaints in the past 3 years.

Ratings

BBB

A+

Google

N/A

Facebook

N/A

Yelp

N/A

Reviews

Total Online Reviews

50+

Total Online Complaints

30+

Lawsuits

1

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