PNC offers two rewards programs which are PNC Points and PNC Miles. PNC Miles are earned using the PNC Premier Traveler Card and are worth 1 cent each when redeemed towards travel while PNC Points are earned using the PNC Points Visa Credit Card and are worth around 0.25 cents each when redeemed for cash back.
PNC Points Value Calculator
Use the PNC Points Value Calculator to calculate the average cash value of PNC Points based on the redemption options listed. You can enter any amount of PNC Points in the calculator.
Travel
PNC Points has the best redemption value of 0.25 cents per point when being redeeming for travel. That means every time you earn the base 4 points when you spend a dollar on this card, you will earn a 1% return when you apply your points towards travel which is pretty bad. There's lots of great great cards for travel and this isn't one of them.
Gift Cards
PNC Points can be redeemed for gift cards at a value of a little over 0.2 cents per point. A $5 gift card would cost you 2,270 PNC Points. At the base earning of 4 points per $1 spent, you'd have to spend $568 to earn that many PNC Points. You can run $568 across a flat rate 2% cash back card and earn $11.36 which is double the value.
Merchandise
PNC Points can be redeemed for merchandise through their PNC Points portal. The value of redeeming points will vary, but it will be a low value. For example, an iPad Pro costs 583,228 PNC Points which will require at least $145,807 in spend on the PNC Points Visa. You can run that same $145,807 through a 2% cash back card and earn $2,916 worth of cash back which could buy you a few iPad Pros.
PNC Miles Value Calculator
Use the PNC Miles Value Calculator to calculate the average cash value of PNC Miles based on the redemptions listed. You can enter any amount of miles in the calculator below.
Erase Travel Purchases
PNC Miles can be used to wipe travel purchases made on your PNC Premier Card. This is similar to the way Venture Miles work. You make travel purchases on the card and then use your miles to cover those charges made on the card. This can be extremely useful for charges that can't be covered by your other travel cards. For example, if you were to be billed for a toll or a bus ticket, you could apply your PNC Miles to that charge at a 1 cent for 1 mile rate. Redemptions start at 5,000 PNC Miles which is equal to $50.
PNC Rewards Center
PNC Miles can be used to book travel directly through the PNC Rewards Center. This includes flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, vacations, and adventures. You can also piece together a whole package built around how you want to spend your vacation using PNC's dedicated travel specialists. These redemptions start at 5,000 PNC Miles for a value of $50.
Travel Gift Cards
PNC Miles can be used to redeem travel related gift cards. This includes airlines, hotel stays, and cruises. The value for travel gift cards vary, but redemptions average out around 0.75 cents each. Redemptions start at 3,350 miles. I recommend using your points for either travel purchases or through the rewards center. If you're looking to gift 'travel', you could possibly pay for the travel (or a portion of it) and then apply your PNC Miles so you can get the best value.
Cash Redemption
PNC Miles can be turned into cash at a low rate of 0.5 cents per point. This means the 2x points you're earning on this card would be worth 1 cent making it a 1% cash back card if you take this route. If you're looking for a cash back card, pick up a good 1.5% cash back card like the no annual fee Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. You can even earn 2% cash back with the Citi® Double Cash Card which also has no annual fee.
FAQ
How much are PNC Points worth?
PNC Points are worth around 0.25 cents each. This means that 1,000 PNC Points would be worth $2.50.
How much is 50,000 PNC Points worth?
At a average value of 0.25 cents each, 50,000 PNC points are worth $125.
How much are PNC Miles worth?
PNC Miles are worth 1 cent each when redeemed towards travel purchases.
What is the best PNC credit card?
The best PNC credit card for most will be the PNC Cash Rewards Credit Card. It offers a great amount of cash back across several popular categories.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rewards Rates
- Earn an unlimited 2X miles per $1 spent on every purchase, every day.
Intro Bonus
Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles when you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening, or still earn 50,000 miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Authorized User Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
0%
Main Card Highlights
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn.
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Use your miles to fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime.
- Transfer your miles to over 10+ travel loyalty programs
Partner Link: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Citi® Double Cash Card
Rewards Rate
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Intro Bonus
No current intro bonus
Annual Fee
$0
Authorized User Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Main Card Highlights
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Cash back earned can be converted to the Citi ThankYou Rewards program
Partner Link: Best Cash Back Credit Cards
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- Get matches with offers you're likely to qualify for
- Offers may includes special and/or prequalified offers
- No impact to your credit score
