PNC Brokerage Plus Account Review
Important points:
• PNC Wealth Management, a company affiliated with PNC Bank, provides investment services that include the self-directed Brokerage Plus Account.
• Brokerage Plus customers pay $0 commissions for online trades of stocks, ETFs, closed-end funds, and eligible mutual funds.
• Customers can establish a Brokerage Plus account by telephone or at a PNC location. Qualifying PNC Online Banking customers may also open individual self-directed brokerage accounts and selected IRAs online.
PNC Brokerage Plus Account Overview
PNC Wealth Management LLC, previously named PNC Investments, LLC, provides PNC’s brokerage and investment-advisory services. The business is affiliated with The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Brokerage Plus combines independent online investing with access to assistance from PNC Wealth Management professionals. Continue reading to determine how this service compares with the account available from your current brokerage firm.
Available Investments and Trading
PNC Wealth Management provides the Brokerage Plus account for customers who want to purchase and sell securities on their own. The available investments include stocks, mutual funds, closed-end funds, and exchange-traded funds. Customers who work with a financial advisor can also open an advisor-assisted brokerage account. These full-service accounts provide access to additional investments, including bonds, options, structured products, annuities, and alternative investments.
Brokerage Plus investors can submit eligible orders through the online trading system. Customers who do not want online trading enabled may also ask PNC to disable that feature for the account.
Margin Trading
PNC opens Brokerage Plus as a cash account by default unless the client submits a separate margin application and PNC approves the request.
Uninvested Cash Sweep
Available cash in an eligible Brokerage Plus account is automatically transferred to an interest-bearing deposit account maintained at PNC Bank, N.A. These deposits may qualify for FDIC protection up to the applicable insurance limits after being combined with the customer’s other PNC Bank deposits held under the same ownership category. The rate can change and is established by PNC Bank with guidance from PNC Wealth Management.
Brokerage Plus Pricing and Fees
PNC charges no commission for online transactions in stocks, ETFs, closed-end funds, no-load mutual funds, and no-transaction-fee mutual funds. Investors may still pay mutual fund sales loads, operating expenses, short-term redemption charges, and other fund-level costs. Brokerage accounts have a $75 annual service fee, although qualifying Gold and Platinum members can receive a waiver through PNC Total Rewards. A complete account termination or outgoing transfer costs $125. Brokerage Plus does not require an opening deposit, but cash or securities must be available in the account before a customer can begin trading.
Online and Mobile Software
Brokerage Plus includes an online system for managing the account, researching investments, and submitting orders. Investors can review balances, positions, transaction history, open orders, market quotes, and unrealized profits and losses. PNC’s online banking system also allows customers to display qualifying banking and investment accounts together and move money between eligible accounts. The PNC Mobile app provides bill payment, account transfers, branch and ATM searches, mobile check deposits, and other banking functions.
How to Open an Account
Customers can open Brokerage Plus by visiting a nearby PNC location or calling a PNC Wealth Management professional at 855-762-4683. Eligible PNC Online Banking customers may now open and fund individual self-directed brokerage accounts, Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and Rollover IRAs through PNC’s digital application. Telephone assistance is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Our Recommendations
Brokerage Plus may be a reasonable choice for mutual fund investors. Customers should focus on no-load,
no-transaction-fee funds while carefully examining each fund’s expense ratio and any additional charges.
We do not recommend Brokerage Plus for investors who trade stocks frequently. PNC’s online tools are less advanced than the
trading platforms available through Charles Schwab.
New investors may be better served by a professionally managed PNC Wealth Management account than by managing a Brokerage Plus account entirely on their own.
Brokerage Plus may not provide a complete enough package for retirement planning and long-term investing.
Charles Schwab offers a wider collection of accounts, investments, and retirement resources.
Brokerage Plus has no opening minimum, but the $75 yearly charge may represent a significant cost for a small account unless the customer qualifies for a waiver. For that reason, we suggest
Webull as an alternative.
PNC Brokerage Review Verdict
PNC’s Brokerage Plus account is a capable choice for customers seeking basic self-directed investing. Investors who need a larger investment selection, advanced trading technology, or more guidance may prefer an advisor-assisted PNC account or a self-directed account at another brokerage company.
Updated on 9/20/2026.
Chad Morris has been analyzing investment firms for Brokerage-Review.com since 2015. Backed by FINRA Series 65, 66, and SIE credentials, his work reflects a deep knowledge of the retail brokerage industry and digital trading tools.
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