What is a Cash Advance and is it a Good Idea to Get One?

If you suddenly need cash, you can typically use your credit card in any ATM to get some money. But it is a costly process. While this is often called a “cash advance,” in reality, it is an expensive loan from your credit card company. Only use cash advances for emergencies and never use credit card cash advances to pay off other debt. It’s far better to start a budget and have a small savings account to handle those types of emergencies.

How a cash advance works

Technically, a cash advance works the same upfront as a debit card tied to your bank account; you put your card into an ATM, enter a PIN, and take out the cash you need.

In reality, a credit card cash advance works far differently from a debit card. You aren’t taking out cash from your bank account; instead, you borrow cash from your credit card issuer. It’s convenient, but you wind up paying a lot of fees for this convenience, including:

• Cash advance fees – Can start at $10 with a minimum of 5%.
• ATM fees – Depending upon the ATM you use, there is typically a charge for out-of-network banks.
• Interest – Can run anywhere from 17% – 25%. Interest on cash advances is different and (usually) higher than interest on purchases. They also have no grace period, and interest is charged right away.

Types of cash advances

You may think that only going to an ATM to take out cash would be considered a cash advance. But there are eight types of transactions that most card issuers consider to be cash advances.

1. ATM withdrawals – These are the type of transactions most people think about when using their credit card to access cash. This should not be confused with using a debit card to withdraw cash.
2. Overdraft protection – When you link your credit card to your checking account to avoid overdraft fees (coverage for checks or online payments when you don’t have enough of a balance), the “overdraft protection” is treated the same as a cash advance. Not all overdraft protection is treated as a cash advance. A banking customer can use a savings account instead of a credit card to cover overdrafts. There may be fees with either method, but using a savings account will be far less expensive and won’t have interest charges.
3. Gambling Transactions – Using your credit card (when allowed) for gambling is most often treated as a cash advance. Many casinos do not allow you to use cards other than to get cash advances at their ATMs.
4. Gift Cards – Purchasing gift cards CAN BE considered a cash advance if you buy them directly from a financial institution. Still, generally, buying a gift card is treated as a regular purchase if you buy them at your local grocery store.
5. Credit card checks – The convenience checks that often come with a new credit card can be treated the same as cash advances. It’s best to shred them.
6. Buying foreign currency – Buying the local currency in another country can be treated the same as a cash advance and subject to the same charges, plus a currency conversion fee that might be as high as 3%.
7. Cryptocurrency – Many credit card companies treat cryptocurrency purchases the same as cash advances. Others don’t allow it at all because of a high potential for fraud. Some cryptocurrency exchanges also charge extra fees for using credit cards.
8. Transferring between accounts – Transfering money from a credit card to a bank account is also considered a cash advance.

Cash advance pros and cons

When you don’t have enough money to cover the rent, pay the mortgage or make your car payment, it may be tempting to run to the nearest ATM and take out a cash advance on your credit card to help you get by. A cash advance may not be your best option, however.

You’ll pay a cash advance fee

You always have to pay more for convenience, and grabbing cash charged to your credit card from the nearest ATM is no exception. So, how much will you pay for convenient cash?

Your credit card company may charge an upfront fee usually 5% of the amount advanced or $10, whichever is higher

If your cash advance transaction is at an ATM, the bank you withdraw money from may also charge its own service fee.

Brace yourself for a higher interest rate

One thing you can expect with a credit card cash advance is that you’ll pay a higher interest rate than you pay on new purchases with that same card. In fact,  interest rates for some credit cards are more than 25%.

A cash advance can hurt your credit score

When you raise your credit utilization rate, your credit score can suffer. Cash advances do impact your utilization rate. This rate measures the amount of the available credit limit you are currently using. Anything above 30% will hurt your credit score, so borrowing a large sum of money with an advance can quickly increase your utilization rate, just like a big purchase would.

Outside of the utilization ratio, advances do not impact your credit score. There is no credit rating for cash advances.

Credit card payments may go toward earlier purchases

Keep in mind that when you make your next credit card payment, the payment might go towards paying for purchases with a lower interest rate first.

Meanwhile, you’ll keep on paying that higher interest rate on your cash advance while your payments are applied to outstanding purchases accruing less interest.

Find out: Can I Pay Off My Credit Card With Another Credit Card?

Know your cash advance limit

Your credit card will likely have an advance limit, which is borrowed against your card’s total credit limit. To find out your card’s advance limit, look at your credit card statement or online account information. Also, make sure that charging a cash advance won’t push your total balance to an amount that exceeds the card’s credit limit.

Don’t expect a grace period

When you make new purchases with a credit card, you have up to a one-month grace period to pay them off before the credit card issuer begins charging interest on the charges. That’s often not the case with credit card cash advances, which can begin accumulating interest right away.

That convenience check is a cash advance

When you use the blank “convenience check” that your credit card company may send in the mail, that transaction works like a cash advance. That means you’ll typically pay fees and a higher interest rate while receiving no grace period on the accumulated interest.

Cashing a convenience check for a large amount could also bump your balance up so you exceed your card’s credit limit, incurring more expense with a penalty fee.

Find out: Can I Use Cash Advances to Pay Off Student Loans, Then Declare Bankruptcy?

Other ways that credit card cash advances can hurt you

Having high balances on your credit card can hurt your credit rating and is very expensive. You also run the risk of having your debt get out of control and sent to collectors. Bill collectors can pursue legal actions, including wage garnishment. By the way, if a bill collector claims they can arrest you and send you to prison, they are lying, no one in the USA has been sent to jail for debt since the 1830s, but you do need to follow any court orders. If your credit card debt is difficult to handle, there are many resources you can use.

Additionally, if you are unemployed and in debt, here are some options.

Why cash advances are expensive

Typically a $500 advance can cost you almost $100 by the time you have paid all the fees and interest. Even if you paid it in full the next month, you’d still have fees, interest from the time of withdrawal, and the ATM fee. Keep in mind that interest compounds daily, meaning it adds up quickly.

Alternatives to cash advances

Since putting an advance on your credit card is costlier than other charges made with the card due to fees and high-interest rates, don’t be too quick to run to the ATM or cash that convenience check.

Depending on what you’re using the advance for, ask if you charge the service or fee directly instead of paying cash.

If you absolutely need cash, consider selling items to cover the cost, using a service like Declutter or OfferUp. Old technology you’re not using anymore can be sold for cash using apps like Gazelle.

If you have good credit and a good history with your bank, consider getting a personal loan. This will have a fixed rate of interest, and repaying on time will boost your credit rating. Don’t go to a payday loan store or use other “easy money” options.

Begin an emergency savings account as soon as possible to avoid having to borrow for emergencies. Make sure your checking account is balanced before you pay bills, and choose to have it tied to a savings account rather than a credit card.

Credit card cash advances vs debit cards

When you use a debit card or credit card to purchase something or even get cash, they both work the same upfront. You enter your card into an ATM, put in your PIN and take out cash, or purchase online or in a store.

Beyond that, what happens after the withdrawal or transaction is significantly different. When you take out money using a debit card, it’s automatically deducted from your bank account, and there are no fees other than a possible out-of-network ATM fee.

Using a credit card to purchase goods and services works the same way. You are borrowing money, and interest is charged if don’t repay the balance within the grace period. The grace period on a credit card is a period when you are not charged interest on purchases provided you are not carrying a balance. Aside from interest, there can be many other fees you should avoid.

Credit cards may offer much better fraud protection than debit cards, depending on the bank or credit union that issued the debit card. If you report any loss or theft within 48 hours, your liability is no more than $50. While debit cards are beginning to offer more protection, they still need to catch up. Call your issuer right away if you suspect any fraud on either a debit card or a credit card.

Cash advance FAQ

Many people have financial difficulties from time to time. Layoffs, divorces, pandemics, and other reasons cause us to fall behind.