Cash back · Visa · No annual fee
Last verified 2026-10-26. Review issuer source
PNC Cash Rewards is a no-annual-fee cash back card from PNC. Its best everyday rates are 4% on gas stations, 3% on dining, and 2% on grocery stores; everything else earns 1%. Gas stations is capped at $8,000 a year, then drops to the base rate.
On our reference budget of $24,600 a year it returns about $450, an effective 1.8% back. The welcome bonus, $250 after $1,000 in 3 months, is the strongest reason to open it in a given year.
Put the bonus categories on it and everything else on a flat 2% card. On its own the base rate drags the average down. It charges 3% on foreign purchases, so leave it home when you travel abroad.
Cap: $8,000 per annual
3% cash back on dining purchases at restaurants
Cap: $8,000 per annual
4% cash back on gas station purchases
Cap: $8,000 per annual
2% cash back on grocery store purchases
Earn a $250 bonus after you make $1,000 or more in purchases[2] during the first 3 billing cycles following account opening of a PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card.
When you use your eligible PNC Visa credit card to pay your monthly wireless bill, you can get reimbursed up to $800 if your cell phone is stolen or damaged.
These come from Visa, not from PNC. Every card on the Visa Traditional tier carries them, so they should not decide between two cards.
Purchase qualifying stays with your eligible Visa Credit or Debit card and get up to 8% in Travel Credits to use on future flights, stays, car rentals, attractions, car rentals, taxis and more. Sign up for a free Booking.com account to get started.
Eligible Visa cardholders can enjoy special events access to the hottest dining events on OpenTable. Restrictions apply.
This is a pay-per-use roadside assistance program available 24x7. Roadside Dispatch will ask for your location, find out what the problem is, and will remain on the phone with you while arranging a dispatch to a reliable tow operator or locksmith. You pay a set price per service call.
Enjoy a free ticket per show with the purchase of one or more tickets, plus you can access 7-day Visa Exclusive Presale opportunities.
Benefit descriptions are the issuer’s and network’s own wording, trimmed for length. Limits and exclusions are in the guide to benefits.
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards earned | Net after fee | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNC Cash Rewards®This card · 4% on gas stations | None | $450 | +$450 | 405th of 1,284 |
| PNC Cash Unlimited®PNC's most-held other card · 2% on everything | None | $492 | +$492 | 290th of 1,284 |
| Chase Freedom Flex® Credit CardThe strongest no-fee card on this budget · 7% on dining | None | $822 | +$822 | 1st of 1,284 |
| Robinhood Gold CardHighest net return on this budget · 3% on everything | $50 | $798 | +$748 | 2nd of 1,284 |
Reference budget: groceries $6,000, dining and restaurants $3,600, gas and ev charging $2,400, travel and transit $3,000, online shopping $2,400, entertainment and streaming $1,200, everything else $6,000. Points are valued at 1¢ unless the program is worth less; statement credits, welcome bonuses, and perks are left out. Run it with your own spending.
