PNC begins phased rollout of rebuilt mobile banking app

PNC Financial Services Group has started rolling out a rebuilt mobile banking application to retail customers, with the bank saying all clients are expected to receive the new experience by the end of summer. The platform is aimed at a large digital base: PNC said its existing mobile app serves 8 million clients and handles 150 million monthly sessions.

The Pittsburgh-based bank said the launch is being handled in phases to limit disruption for customers. Access has already been provided in several markets, including to all recently converted FirstBank customers, according to PNC.

The update comes as US banks continue to invest in mobile channels as routine transactions shift away from branches. PNC linked the app launch to a broader retail strategy that also includes PNC TotalRewards and the buildout of more than 300 new branches nationwide.

Personalisation and app design

PNC said the new app has a revised interface, faster loading times and more flexible navigation. Customers can organise and prioritise accounts, change their dashboard and select display preferences, including light or dark mode and language options.

The bank said the design reflects customer feedback and is intended to make common tasks easier to complete while preserving a consistent experience across devices. PNC described the changes as including a cleaner layout, more direct navigation and interactive elements.

Alex Overstrom, PNC’s head of retail banking, said the bank had built a platform intended to let clients manage money in a more flexible way. He said the app combines modern design, integrated rewards and advanced technology to provide a more personalised mobile banking service.

Technology platform

PNC said the app is supported by a new technology platform built for speed, scale and ongoing updates. The bank said it used its agentic development system and a patented data-streaming, microservices-based architecture.

In practical terms, a microservices architecture breaks software into smaller components that can be changed or updated separately. PNC said this structure should allow the app to be enhanced more rapidly as customer feedback and new bank features are incorporated.

Tom Kunz, PNC’s head of retail digital and payments, said the rebuild reflects a shift in how the bank creates and delivers digital services. He said the technology foundation is intended to support faster innovation and optimisation of the mobile experience.

PNC also said the platform is designed to support embedded generative artificial intelligence functions over time. According to the bank, potential features include intelligent assistance, proactive insights and expanded self-service capabilities. PNC said it uses access to advanced AI models to improve the fidelity, safety and resilience of its software development process, including design, testing and validation.

Rollout and customer support

PNC said active users on its existing mobile platform rose 8% year over year in the first quarter. The bank said it expects the modernised app to support further adoption and usage by making digital banking easier for clients, though it did not provide a specific target.

The bank said its branch network, business banking teams and customer care centres have been prepared to assist customers during the transition. The app also includes tutorials and guided experiences to help users adjust to the new navigation and features.

Customers will receive the new app experience automatically through Apple’s App Store or Google Play as it becomes available to them, PNC said. The bank said customers do not need to take action other than keeping the app updated.

This story draws on original reporting from Finextra Research.