This offer, in response to consumers' feedback, will be a feature of new performance checking accounts along with rewards for everyday transactions, including check card purchases and online banking. The new accounts will be available Sunday, Aug. 27, while the free ATM offer and rewards program begin Sept. 1 with the start of a new month.

"Our research found that consumers dislike paying for access to their own money, so we are responding with truly free ATMs," said Joseph C. Guyaux, president of PNC. "Our goal is to become the primary bank for more customers and make their banking easier and more convenient. We believe free ATMs coupled with other enhancements will help us achieve that goal."

The most significant improvement is PNC's decision to offer access to a worldwide network of free ATMs. Besides free use of PNC's 3,600 machines, customers in the bank's three new checking accounts also may be able to enjoy free use of the 1 million ATMs worldwide, including 395,000 across the United States.

PNC, with 2 million retail customers and a retail network that spans eight states plus the District of Columbia, is the first major bank to rebate both fees charged for using another provider's cash machine - the ATM fee previously charged by PNC plus the surcharge levied by the machine's owner. With PNC's new offer, there is no limit on the number of ATM transactions. On average, consumers today pay $126 a year in ATM usage fees. Total fees paid reached a record high of $4.2 billion in 2005.

PNC's offer will be available to customers throughout its retail banking markets. The free ATM offer was expanded based on the positive consumer response in the Greater Washington Area since May 2005 when PNC acquired Riggs Bank.