PNC: Direct Connect vs Express Web Connect

Crenshaw

While PNC and Quicken try to resolve the latest update/download debacle, is there a preferred means to connect: Direct Connect or Express Web connect? I do not pay bills out of Quicken. Two of my PNC accounts are via Direct Connect. Two are Web connect. I do not recall how that happened, but FWIW, I've been both a Quicken member and a PNC client for over 20 years. Once this mess is sorted out (and I assume we will be deactivating and reactivating accounts) is there one method better than the other?

Thanks.

Boatnmaniac

Once this mess is sorted out (and I assume we will be deactivating and reactivating accounts) is there one method better than the other?

Key part…."Once this mess is sorted out…" Historically DC is the preferred method because it is fast, it is very reliable and it is very secure.

It also does not save any of the accounts data on Intuit's (the aggregator's) nor on Quicken's servers. EWC+ does save this data on their servers….at least until the data is downloaded to the Quicken software. What happens with that saved data after being downloaded into Quicken is anyone's guess. I'd hope that it is deleted but we really don't know that it is.

However, for now, the only download connection method that seems to be working reasonably well is EWC+ and WC (manual downloading/importing of data from the online account in QFX or "Quicken" file format).

Crenshaw

Thank you for your response.

Michael D'Amore

I have seen reports that PNC will be ending support of Direct Connect soon. That explains all the foot dragging. I have switched to Express Web Connect and am setting up PNC bill payment which looks OK. Please see if you can find more support for what I said. If so, this has all been a total waste of time and paints PNC as the bad guy. I call BS.

Boatnmaniac

I've heard those reports about PNC discontinuing soon, too, but everything I've seen about that seems to originate from speculation or hearsay and not from PNC nor Quicken. In fact, both PNC and Quicken have both stated that PNC is not discontinuing DC (at least not that it is immanent). However PNC is encouraging those who do not need DC to perform DC Bank Bill Pay to instead use EWC+. And I would encourage the same because EWC+ has been working well for almost all of the last 1-1/2 months.