Specialist providers can often offer lower overall fees, and a better exchange rate compared to banks. Because international money transfers are their core business, getting set up and using the platforms is usually straightforward, too.

PNC international transfer fees

First, let’s look at the international transfer fees applied by PNC – which can vary based on whether you send your payment with assistance from a bank employee or through a self-service route – and also depending on the transaction value and where it’s headed.

These fees are the PNC international transfer fees that apply at the time of research to virtual wallet and standard checking accounts. Some other account types may have different fees – and costs also change over time, so it’s worth double-checking your own account’s terms and conditions.

PNC’s international money transfer option is available to select destination countries, based on the transfer amount and the specific beneficiary bank involved. If international money transfers are not available for your PNC international payment, wire transfer fees will apply instead.

PNC exchange rate

You’ll be notified of the available PNC international transfer exchange rate when you set up your payment in a PNC branch. It’s useful to know that the exchange rate used by banks for international transfers is often not the same as the rate you’ll find on a currency converter or using a Google search.

The rate you find on Google is the mid-market exchange rate – the one banks and currency services access when they trade currencies on global markets. However, banks usually add a markup to this rate when they offer a quote to customers for international payments or other foreign currency transactions. This markup might be called a margin or a spread – but whatever it’s called it’s an extra fee that can be hard to spot.

The markup used by banks can be around 3%, which may sound small, but does push up the costs significantly. In fact, as we mentioned above the exchange rate markup can often be the most costly fee of all. Here’s how the exchange rate markup would stack up with a 3% margin used for different transfer values:

• Sending 1,000 USD – the exchange rate markup adds 30 USD to the total
• Sending 5,000 USD – the exchange rate markup adds 150 USD to the total
• Sending 50,000 USD – the exchange rate markup adds 1,500 USD to the total

Here’s a reminder of the total costs – including exchange rate markups – from the providers we looked at earlier. This is what you’ll pay with each if you’re sending 1,000 USD to the UK:

• PNC: 5 USD transfer fee + exchange rate margin + possible third-party fees
• Wise: 6.50 USD
• Western Union: 0.99 USD + exchange rate margin
• OFX: 5 USD + exchange rate margin

PNC additional fees

When banks process international transfers they’re often sent using the SWIFT payment network. This is a reliable and safe way to send money – but it’s also slow and expensive.

Under SWIFT your payment is passed through a network of partner banks known as intermediaries. Each intermediary can charge a fee as they process the payment – pushing up the costs. And 1 to 3 different intermediaries can be involved in a single payment – slowing your money down. You don’t always know in advance which intermediaries will be used to process your payment, which means you also can’t see the full fees in advance.

A final additional cost to be aware of is any fee levied by your recipient’s own bank. If your recipient’s bank deducts a fee before the payment arrives, they might get less than you were expecting in the end.

Alternative providers like OFX and Wise may help to minimize these costs and speed up the process since they often charge lower fees and reduce intermediaries with certain countries or currencies.

How long does a PNC international money transfer take

The length of time it takes your payment to arrive will depend on a range of factors:

• Where your money is headed
• The transaction value
• The recipient bank’s own processes

As we mentioned, it’s common for banks to send payments through the SWIFT network. In this case, they can take up to 5 working days to arrive.

Here’s a roundup of how long it takes to get payments with PNC compared to the specialists we profiled earlier:

• PNC: Up to 5 working days
• Wise: 80% of payments arrive in 24 hours
• Western Union: Up to 2 days
• OFX: 1 – 2 business days

Pros and cons of transferring money abroad with PNC

Pros:

• Familiar and reliable service
• Get help in branch if you need it
• Payments arrive directly in the recipient’s bank account

Cons:

• Transfer fees are on the high side
• Exchange rate markups may apply
• International wires tend to take up to 5 days to arrive

While sending money overseas with PNC may be an obvious and familiar choice, it might not be the cheapest or fastest way to get your money where it needs to be. Compare the options available from PNC against convenient online alternatives and specialist providers to see if you can get a better exchange rate and a lower fee elsewhere.

Alternatives to PNC for International Wire Transfers

Traditional banks like PNC often charge high fees for international wire transfers and transfers can sometimes be slow. Many banks require that you have an account with them to use the international wire transfer service. If you don’t already have an account, you may need to go into a branch to open one.

Alternative international money transfer providers like OFX, Wise, WorldRemit, and others often make it easy to open an account online and offer speedy, low-cost transfers to several countries around the world.

• OFX: OFX supports international money transfers from over 190 countries in more than 50 currencies. They offer a range of tools like targeting specific exchange rates and fixing future exchange rates. Customer support is available 24/7 where you can speak to a real person.
• Wise: Wise offers mid-market exchange rates with transparent fees, and most transfers arrive within 2 business days. They offer a multi-currency account that lets you hold various currencies and a linked debit card that you can use to send, spend and receive money in more than 170 countries.
• WorldRemit: WorldRemit lets you send money in more than 70 currencies to more than 130 countries. Fees are often fixed and some countries allow you to send money as cash pickups, home delivery, mobile money, or airtime top-up.
• Western Union: Western Union has an agent network covering almost every country in the world. You can make transfers online or in person at one of Western Union’s more than 50,000 US agent locations. Western Union also offers a cash-pickup option when sending money overseas.

*Information correct at time of research  – 21 November 2022, based on sending USD to CAD

Summary: Many alternative wire transfer providers offer fast transfers to many countries for low fees at mid-market exchange rates. Which provider is better for you depends on your needs and the features each provider offers.

How to make an international transfer with PNC

To arrange an international transfer with PNC you’ll need to visit your local branch. You can find your local PNC branch using the PNC online locator tool, and make an appointment in advance if you’d prefer.

Once you’re in the branch, a member of the service team will assist you to arrange your international wire, and complete the documents and information required as well as the fees and exchange rate that will apply.

International money transfers are sometimes subject to certain limits and the team member may ask you to provide various documents to complete the transfer. We will look at those next.

What information do you need to make an international transfer with PNC?

A member of the PNC team will help you to arrange your international payment. However, you’ll need to give them some information about your recipient to get started, including:

• Your recipient’s name and address
• The name and address of the recipient’s bank
• Your recipient’s bank account number
• Recipient bank’s SWIFT/BIC code
• Other country-specific information like a sort code for the UK or a CLABE number for Mexico

Transfer limits and available countries

The transfer limits – and the countries you can send money abroad to with PNC – aren’t publicly available and may vary based on your account type. To find out more, head to your local PNC branch and ask about the specific terms which apply to your account.

Receiving money from abroad with PNC

You can receive international wire payments to your PNC account. You’ll need to give the sender some information including:

• Your full name as shown on your bank account
• Your bank account number
• The correct routing code for the payment type
• Your bank’s address

You can find your bank account number by logging into your online banking or on your checks. However, it’s worth knowing that incoming wires may need a different routing number than the one on your checkbook. In some cases, you’ll need to use the PNC Bank Routing Number: 043000096. Double-check the details before your payment is sent.

PNC address for wire transfers

Some banks may require you to provide your bank’s physical address. If you are a PNC customer, you can use the following address:

PNC Bank, N.A.

Firstside Center

500 First Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA

15219

USA

Banks addresses may change and we recommend confirming the address with your local PNC branch before completing the transaction.

PNC SWIFT code

Using the right SWIFT code is important to make sure a payment headed to your account can arrive quickly and safely. It’s like adding a zip code to your letter before you mail it.

The main PNC SWIFT/BIC code is: PNCCUS33XXX. However, PNC uses several different types of SWIFT/BIC codes depending on the type of payment, so you’ll want to double-check the exact one you need before your payment is sent.

Conclusion

Although sending money with your regular bank might seem like the easy way to make an international payment, it’s not necessarily the most convenient or cost-effective.

Specialist international wire transfer providers like OFX and Wise offer fast transfers and often have lower fees and better exchange rates than traditional banks. What’s more, you don’t have to go into a branch to open an account, you can do it all online.

PNC international bank transfer FAQs

Does PNC Bank do international wire transfers?

You can do international wire transfers through PNC Bank for a fee. This fee may consist of a flat fee plus exchange rate markups and third-party charges. Transfers can take up to 5 working days.

Does PNC allow online wire transfers?

PNC allows you to do wire transfers overseas online through its Pinnacle Platform. The platform allows you to make transfers in U.S. dollars and foreign currency.

What is PNC Bank Address for wire transfer?

Use the following address when performing international money transfers:

PNC Bank, N.A.

Firstside Center

500 First Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA

15219

USA

How much does a PNC international transfer cost?

Where they’re available, PNC international money transfers have a 5 USD fee. This service is only available in select markets – elsewhere fees of 40 – 45 USD + exchange rate markups apply.

How long does a PNC international money transfer take?

Bank international transfers typically take 1 – 5 business days to arrive, depending on the destination country and currency.

How to transfer money internationally with PNC?

To make a PNC international transfer you’ll need to call into your local PNC branch.