On the streets of downtown Pittsburgh, PNC Financial Services is buzzing with fintech innovation.
PNC’s Tech Tower is newly renovated — colorfully outfitted with bold, modern features to inspire collaboration and innovation. It’s home base for the company’s growing team of deeply curious, highly skilled technologists. Teams work together to build and modernize PNC’s digital banking offerings, advancing the digital lifestyles of its customers through modern applications of emerging technologies, brought to life via secure, intuitive apps, products and services.
Beyond Pittsburgh, PNC recently introduced Technology and Innovation Hubs, with the first location being in Dallas, TX. Tech Hubs feature multipurpose rooms to encourage a culture of collaboration, training rooms, team meeting areas with writable surfaces and large screens for brainstorming and planning, and modern artwork for a vibrant work atmosphere.
For a bank of its size, PNC feels more like a community than a corporate entity. Employees are encouraged to share their outside passions, like volunteering and running in community races. The tech teams enjoy the fast, iterative pace of Agile processes, and the rush of chasing down and testing new languages and key technologies as soon as they launch.
PNC is committed to the communities where its employees and customers live and work. It is focused on building diverse teams, and diversity and inclusion is one of its core values. The collective power of PNC’s unique differences gives it its strength. That’s why PNC nurtures an open and inclusive culture, where each person feels empowered to make a positive impact on the people around them.
The company is proud to have won numerous awards, including Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality, Human Rights Campaign (2022), Top Companies for Executive Women, Seramount (2022), Top 50 Employers, Equal Opportunity Magazine (2022) and 100 Most Sustainable Companies, Barron’s (2022).
Recognizing its role as a pillar of the communities it serves, PNC invests consistently in early childhood education, arts and culture, and economic development initiatives, among other priorities, in each of its markets. In 2021, it contributed more than $98 million in philanthropic funds to many community organizations. Its signature philanthropic program, PNC Grow Up Great®, now a $500 million initiative, helps prepare children from birth to age 5, particularly underserved children, for success in school and life. In 2021, PNC invested more than $900 million into renewable energy projects.
“I joined the PNC team because of the opportunities for career growth and continued education. I’ve stayed because the people I work with are some of the most intelligent, hardworking and dependable people I’ve ever met. They continue to make me a better person and better technology specialist every day.”
Torrie McLaughlin Infrastructure Engineer“I’m fortunate to work for an organization like PNC that focuses on intrapreneurship, innovation and collaboration. It’s fulfilling to partner with our passionate workforce to develop solutions that positively impact our employees, our customers and the communities where we live and work.”
Blessil George Software Services Manager Sr.“PNC offers me the opportunity to leverage my skills to drive results, while offering a flexible work environment where I can thrive. Our culture is one that values the contributions and perspectives of all people, and employees are provided the tools and support to be successful. Not only does PNC strive to continually improve the customer experience, but it places employee wellbeing at the heart of everything it does.”
Heather Gavlak Software Services Group Manager"What I love being part of is developing technology and solutions that help our customers. I want to work on projects that make people excited about finances and make them see banking as a positive thing in their lives."
Jon Russell Software Services Mgr Sr“Authenticity and transparency are integrated into the culture of PNC. I try to build an open environment that fosters communication and dialogue where people can raise ideas, provide feedback and share what they're thinking, regardless of what their title might be within the organization.”
Chris Johns Chief Information Officer, Asset Management Group and Staff Services“I’m excited to wake up every day and be part of a forward-thinking, thought leadership-oriented company that allows me to apply technical expertise to real business problems. I get to bring about transformational change using PNC’s advanced, modern technologies.”
Manisha Chhoda Software Services Group Manager, Asset Management GroupIn large organizations, it can be easy for employees to feel like they are not connected. Employee business resource groups are a great example of how PNC helps with that. I’m active in the Women Connect and TECH Connect (Women in Technology) groups. My participation has opened opportunities to network and communicate, both personally and professionally.
Jeannette Adorante Software ManagerAlthough it’s a big bank, things move fast here. Upper management encourages us to try new things. We try and fail and learn and move on. It’s an incredibly open and highly collaborative work environment.
Vorachat Tamaree Director of TechnologyWhat types of opportunities exist for technologies at PNC?
Our Technology & Innovation line of business focuses on achieving a strategic advantage for PNC by partnering with business areas to develop innovative products and services.
Enterprise functions span security, including disciplines such as cybersecurity and fraud management, technology risk management, strategic services and infrastructure services. Our enterprise innovation function empowers a culture of innovation, employing design thinking practices, innovation incubators, API ecosystems and intelligent automation to deliver a differentiated customer experience.
What is Pittsburgh, PNC’s headquarters city, like?
Pittsburgh has become an incredible hub for technology and innovation. Being in the heart of the city, we are surrounded by world-class research universities and startups. The energy of the city, combined with the entrepreneurial spirit of its residents, make Pittsburgh a great place to live and work.
What are PNC’s tech goals?
Our customers increasingly prefer to use online, mobile and ATM channels to complete their financial transactions. To meet their expectations, we invest in new ideas and evolving technology. By driving innovation at a faster pace, we believe that we may fundamentally change the way banking is done.
Tell us about PNC’s values.
We have seven core values: customer focus, diversity and inclusion, integrity, performance, quality of life, respect and teamwork. No one value is more important than another; rather, they — together — represent who we are. Our values are critical to our success, and that of our employees, customers and the communities we serve.
What kinds of skills and qualities do you look for in job candidates?
We look for people with a solid, well-rounded understanding of technology. Not just what languages and frameworks do, but how they’re different and which one is more aligned to resolve a customer’s needs. We want to see that candidates understand how to assess quality and understand the logic behind what technology does and why that is important.
In terms of soft skills, we look for people who are excited to do a deep dive into technology, to truly understand the ins and outs of what they do. We want people who communicate clearly and work well with a team.
It’s also important that people are open to trying new things, embracing the lessons learned from what doesn’t work, and adapting to new plans quickly and with enthusiasm.