PNC BusinessOptions® Visa Signature® Credit Card Review
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This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
The PNC BusinessOptions® Visa Signature® Credit Card is designed for business owners wanting to take control of their credit card usage, fees, and rewards. It comes with an annual fee that varies depending on your annual expenses, and you can choose the type of rewards you earn and whether to use the card as a charge card or a traditional credit card.
To see how these cards stack up against others we have reviewed on our site, click Add to Compare on a card below and select up to two additional cards for comparison.
PNC BusinessOptions® Visa Signature® Credit Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Those who want the option to either carry a balance or pay in full
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
15.49% to 21.49% variable
Annual Fee
$0 to $500, based on annual net purchases
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- Annual fee is based on the annual total of net purchases for the previous 12 billing cycles
- You can choose to earn either cash rebates, travel rewards, or points rewards
- You can choose either a pay-in-full option with a credit limit up to $250,000 or a revolve option with a credit limit up to $50,000
- No foreign transaction fee
- Expense allocation features provided by the Advanced Reporting Tool
Pros
- Option to carry a balance or pay in full
- No foreign transaction fee
- Three different reward options available
Cons
- Annual fee is based on yearly expenses
- Low cash back rewards for pay-in-full option
- High spending requirement for sign-up bonus
- Cash Flow Insight®: This tool helps you monitor your spending categories so you can plan your budget.
- Advanced reporting tool: Enroll in the advanced reporting tool to allocate and analyze expenses.
- All benefits of a Visa® card: This card comes with all the benefits of a Visa® credit card, including worldwide acceptance and fraud protection.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
15.49% to 21.49% variable
Annual Fee
$0 to $500, based on annual net purchases
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- Annual fee is based on the annual total of net purchases for the previous 12 billing cycles
- You can choose to earn either cash rebates, travel rewards, or points rewards
- You can choose either a pay-in-full option with a credit limit up to $250,000 or a revolve option with a credit limit up to $50,000
- No foreign transaction fee
- Expense allocation features provided by the Advanced Reporting Tool
Pros
- Option to carry a balance or pay in full
- No foreign transaction fee
- Three different reward options available
Cons
- Annual fee is based on yearly expenses
- Low cash back rewards for pay-in-full option
- High spending requirement for sign-up bonus
- Cash Flow Insight®: This tool helps you monitor your spending categories so you can plan your budget.
- Advanced reporting tool: Enroll in the advanced reporting tool to allocate and analyze expenses.
- All benefits of a Visa® card: This card comes with all the benefits of a Visa® credit card, including worldwide acceptance and fraud protection.
When evaluating a low-interest credit card like the PNC BusinessOptions® Visa Signature® Credit Card, we first consider the introductory and ongoing APRs. We also take into account the card’s additional features, annual fees, ongoing and introductory rewards, and other fees.
Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
|---|---|---|
Introductory APR | 0 | 25 |
Ongoing APR | 25 | 25 |
Additional Features | 10 | 10 |
Annual Fee | 8 | 10 |
Ongoing Rewards | 8 | 10 |
Introductory Rewards | 7 | 10 |
Other fees | 8 | 10 |
Total Score | 66 | 100 |
Who the PNC BusinessOptions® Visa® Business Credit Card Is Best For
- Business owners who want to choose their own rewards: You can choose your rewards (cash back, points, or travel) depending on your business needs.
- Business owners who can spend over $100,000 annually: Your annual fee will be waived if your annual expenses amount to $100,000 or more.
- Business owners who want the option to either carry a balance or pay in full: You can choose the revolve option to use the card as a regular credit card with APR and enjoy a credit limit of up to $50,000. You can also opt for the pay-in-full option to use this as a charge card, which requires you to pay your balance in full each month and receive a credit limit of up to $250,000.
If this isn’t what you’re looking for, check out our guides to the best PNC business credit cards and top small business credit cards.
PNC BusinessOptions® Visa® Business Credit Card Fees
APR
- Introductory APR: None
- Ongoing APR for revolve option: 13.99% to 19.99% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate
- Ongoing APR for pay-in-full option: None; your full balance is due every month
- Cash advance: 24.99%, which adjusts with the prime rate
- Penalty: 31.99%, which adjusts with the prime rate
Fees
- Annual: Varies depending on annual spending
Annual Total of Net Purchases | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
$0 to $49,999.99 | $500 |
$50,000 to $74,999.99 | $250 |
$75,000 to $99,999.99 | $125 |
$100,000 or more | $0 |
- Balance transfer: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash advance: Either $10 or 4% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater (maximum fee of $75)
- Foreign transaction: None
- Late payment: Up to $49
- Overlimit: $49 for revolve option; $69 for pay-in-full option
- Returned payment: $35
- Returned convenience check: $35
- Custom logo: $350
How To Make Payments on the PNC BusinessOptions® Visa® Business Credit Card
- Online: Pay through PNC Online Banking. Make a one-time payment or schedule recurring payments by selecting “Make a Payment” or “Pay Today” on the account activity screen.
- Mobile: Use the PNC Mobile app to pay from a PNC checking or savings account.
- Automated payments: Set up automated payments by filling out the form available at pnc.com/cc-autopayform, then fax or mail it as indicated on the form.
- By phone: Call PNC Bank at (800) 239-5175 or (800) 558-8472. Follow the prompts to either make a self-service payment or ask for assistance from an agent.
- Check by mail: You can send a check payment with the coupon at the bottom of your statement. If you don’t use your payment coupon, write your PNC credit card account number on the check. Mailing your payment without your payment coupon can delay crediting of your payment. Send your payment to this address:
PNC Bank
PO Box 71335
Philadelphia, PA 19176-1335
PNC BusinessOptions® Visa® Business Credit Card Rewards
- $750 statement credit after making at least $25,000 in qualifying purchases during the first three billing cycles after opening an account
The PNC BusinessOptions® Visa® Business Credit Card allows you to choose the rewards you can earn. You can choose one of the three rewards programs:
- Cash Back
- Revolve option: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on net purchases
- Pay-In-Full option: Unlimited 1% cash back on net purchases
Cash back rewards will be credited to your card statement automatically every quarter.
- Points
- 5 points for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases
Points rewards can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards, travel, or statement credits.
- Travel Rewards
- 1 mile for every dollar in eligible net purchases
You can redeem your miles for a statement credit to cover travel expenses charged to your PNC credit card.
PNC BusinessOptions® Visa® Business Credit Card Additional Features
Travel Benefits
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: You’ll be eligible for coverage for physical damage, theft, reasonable and customary towing, and loss-of-use charges. Your name must be listed as the primary renter on the auto rental contract and you need to decline the coverage offered by the rental agency.
- Roadside Dispatch®: This is a pay-per-use 24/7 roadside assistance program that can assist in case you need towing or locksmith services.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: This feature offers reimbursement for your checked luggage or carry-on baggage and its contents in the event of theft or misdirection by the airline or common carrier.
- Travel accident insurance: Use your card to purchase your airline ticket and you’ll be covered with Travel accident insurance.
Security
- Purchase security: Eligible items that are purchased using your card are covered against theft or damage for the first 90 days from the date of purchase.
- Extended protection: Extended warranty protection covers purchases made with this card. Visa® doubles the original manufacturer’s warranty―up to a maximum of one additional year―on warranties of three years or less.
- Zero liability fraud protection: In case your card gets lost or stolen, your company is protected against fraudulent use of the card, including transactions made via phone and online.
Cash Management
- Cash Flow Insight®: Monitor and plan your cash flow, send invoices via email, get paid online, and manage payables. It features the Spend Analysis tool, which assigns business categories to your credit card transactions automatically, helping you track your expenses and plan a budget for your future business needs.
- Online account management: Access your account online to activate, deactivate and change card settings in real-time. Take full control of employee cards by setting their credit limits and restrict individual transactions by merchants and purchase categories.
- Accounting system integration: Access up to 13 months of transactions and download them into Excel, Quicken, or QuickBooks or use comma-separated values (CSV) files.
Pros & Cons of the PNC BusinessOptions® Visa® Business Credit Card
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Option to carry a balance or pay in full | No 0% APR period |
| Low ongoing APR | Annual fee is based on yearly expenses |
| Three different reward programs available | High spending requirement for sign-up bonus |
| No foreign transaction fee | Low cash back rewards for pay-in-full option |
PNC BusinessOptions® Visa® Business Credit Card Alternatives
PNC points® Visa® Business Credit Card
PNC points® Visa® Business Credit Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Those who need to carry a balance
Intro APR
0% on balance transfers and purchases for the first nine billing cycles after opening an account
Regular APR
15.74% to 24.74% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- Unlimited 5 points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, with no spending categories to keep track of and no limits on the amount of points earned.
Pros
- Low ongoing APR
- Unlimited five points for every dollar spent on business-related purchases
- No annual fees
Cons
- Short interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- Points expire on the 48th month after the month in which they were posted to your points account
- Only available if you have an existing online bank account with PNC Bank or if you’re an existing PNC depositor
- Overdraft protection: You can use this card as overdraft protection for your PNC business checking account. This can help prevent overdrafts if your checking account doesn’t have sufficient funds to cover your check transactions.
- Cash Flow Insight®: This lets you monitor and plan your cash flow, send invoices via email, get paid online, and manage payables. It has a Spend Analysis tool that will automatically assign business categories to your credit card transactions so that you can track your expenses and plan a budget for your future business needs.
- Purchase security: Items purchased with this card are covered by purchase security. Visa® will replace, repair, or reimburse you for eligible items in the event of theft or damage within the first 90 days of purchase.
- Extended protection: If you purchase an item with this card, you’re covered with extended protection. This coverage doubles the original manufacturer’s written US warranty up to a maximum of one additional year on warranties of three years or less.
Intro APR
0% on balance transfers and purchases for the first nine billing cycles after opening an account
Regular APR
15.74% to 24.74% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- Unlimited 5 points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, with no spending categories to keep track of and no limits on the amount of points earned.
Pros
- Low ongoing APR
- Unlimited five points for every dollar spent on business-related purchases
- No annual fees
Cons
- Short interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- Points expire on the 48th month after the month in which they were posted to your points account
- Only available if you have an existing online bank account with PNC Bank or if you’re an existing PNC depositor
- Overdraft protection: You can use this card as overdraft protection for your PNC business checking account. This can help prevent overdrafts if your checking account doesn’t have sufficient funds to cover your check transactions.
- Cash Flow Insight®: This lets you monitor and plan your cash flow, send invoices via email, get paid online, and manage payables. It has a Spend Analysis tool that will automatically assign business categories to your credit card transactions so that you can track your expenses and plan a budget for your future business needs.
- Purchase security: Items purchased with this card are covered by purchase security. Visa® will replace, repair, or reimburse you for eligible items in the event of theft or damage within the first 90 days of purchase.
- Extended protection: If you purchase an item with this card, you’re covered with extended protection. This coverage doubles the original manufacturer’s written US warranty up to a maximum of one additional year on warranties of three years or less.
- PNC points® Visa® Business Credit Card is a good option if you want to earn fixed points-based rewards that can be redeemed as cash or for travel, hotel stays, merchandise, or gift cards from Target, Amazon, and Starbucks
- Lets you earn 5 points for every $1 in qualifying purchases
- Offers a 0% APR period for the first nine billing cycles on both balance transfers and purchases
- Has no annual fee
- Is one of our best business credit cards for nonprofit organizations
Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards
Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Those wanting to earn 3% cash back in a spending category of your choice
Intro APR
See Terms
9 billing cycles
9 billing cycles
Regular APR
See Terms
Annual Fee
$0.00
Credit Needed
Excellent
- Get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas stations (default), office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom & wireless, computer services or business consulting services, 2% cash back on dining purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- You'll earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter.
- You can earn up to 75% more cash back on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to 5.25% cash back in your selected choice category and up to 3.5% cash back on dining purchases on the first $50,000 in those combined purchases each calendar year, and up to an unlimited 1.75% cash back on all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- Choose how to redeem your cash rewards - as a deposit into your Bank of America® checking or savings account, as a card statement credit or as a check mailed to you. Cash rewards don't expire.
- To change your choice category for future purchases, you must go to the Mobile Banking app or Business Advantage 360, our small business online banking. You can change it once each calendar month, or make no change and it stays the same.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Pros
- Offers flexible redemption options
- Doesn’t charge annual fees
- With sign-up bonus
Cons
- Premium cash back rewards are capped on a selected spending category
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Short introductory APR period
- Access to a business credit score: Bank of America lets you view and monitor your Dun & Bradstreet business credit score for free through Business Advantage 360.
- Zero liability protection: Stay protected against unauthorized transactions. Bank of America offers additional protections that cover certain purchases against loss, damage, theft, or fire and provides extended warranty coverage.
- Fraud monitoring: Bank of America will block potential fraud if it detects abnormal patterns in your transactions. It’ll also notify you if it suspects any fraudulent activity.
Intro APR
See Terms
9 billing cycles
9 billing cycles
Regular APR
See Terms
Annual Fee
$0.00
Credit Needed
Excellent
- Get a $300 online statement credit after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas stations (default), office supply stores, travel, TV/telecom & wireless, computer services or business consulting services, 2% cash back on dining purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- You'll earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in combined choice category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter.
- You can earn up to 75% more cash back on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to 5.25% cash back in your selected choice category and up to 3.5% cash back on dining purchases on the first $50,000 in those combined purchases each calendar year, and up to an unlimited 1.75% cash back on all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- Choose how to redeem your cash rewards - as a deposit into your Bank of America® checking or savings account, as a card statement credit or as a check mailed to you. Cash rewards don't expire.
- To change your choice category for future purchases, you must go to the Mobile Banking app or Business Advantage 360, our small business online banking. You can change it once each calendar month, or make no change and it stays the same.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Pros
- Offers flexible redemption options
- Doesn’t charge annual fees
- With sign-up bonus
Cons
- Premium cash back rewards are capped on a selected spending category
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Short introductory APR period
- Access to a business credit score: Bank of America lets you view and monitor your Dun & Bradstreet business credit score for free through Business Advantage 360.
- Zero liability protection: Stay protected against unauthorized transactions. Bank of America offers additional protections that cover certain purchases against loss, damage, theft, or fire and provides extended warranty coverage.
- Fraud monitoring: Bank of America will block potential fraud if it detects abnormal patterns in your transactions. It’ll also notify you if it suspects any fraudulent activity.
- Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards is a great alternative if you want to earn premium cash back rewards in a chosen spending category
- Has flexible redemption options, a low ongoing APR, and zero annual fees
- Is one of our leading cash back business credit cards
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Those who want better cash back rewards
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
18.24% - 26.24% Variable
Annual Fee
No annual fee
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.24% - 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- 0% intro APR
- Welcome bonus
- Fixed rate rewards
- No annual fee
Cons
- Cash advance isn’t allowed
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- 2% cash back is capped at $50,000 in annual spending
- Expanded buying power: Enjoy flexible buying power when your business needs it. Expanded buying power gives you the freedom to spend beyond your credit limit and help get business done. While the amount you can spend above your credit limit isn't unlimited, it adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: As a Card Member, You can be covered for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle in a covered territory when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental company counter.
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
18.24% - 26.24% Variable
Annual Fee
No annual fee
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
- From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
- Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.24% - 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
Pros
- 0% intro APR
- Welcome bonus
- Fixed rate rewards
- No annual fee
Cons
- Cash advance isn’t allowed
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- 2% cash back is capped at $50,000 in annual spending
- Expanded buying power: Enjoy flexible buying power when your business needs it. Expanded buying power gives you the freedom to spend beyond your credit limit and help get business done. While the amount you can spend above your credit limit isn't unlimited, it adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: As a Card Member, You can be covered for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle in a covered territory when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental company counter.
- American Express Blue Business CashTM Card is good for those who need to spend over their credit limit
- Features expanded buying power, which offers a flexible credit limit that adjusts with your use of the card, payment history, credit record, financial resources, and other factors
- Offers 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back thereafter
- Provides 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months
- Comes with no annual fee and a low ongoing APR
- Is one of our top-recommended Amazon business credit cards
Bottom Line
The PNC BusinessOptions® Visa® Business Credit Card is an ideal choice if you want to select the type of rewards you earn and whether you’ll use the card as a traditional credit card or as a charge card. Since its annual fee varies based on annual spending, it’s best for businesses with large annual expenses.
