There are three ways to get cash from a credit card: withdraw it at an ATM using a PIN, request it from a teller at a bank that accepts your card’s network, or write a convenience check your issuer mailed you. All three are called cash advances, and all three cost more than a regular purchase. Expect an upfront fee of 3% to 5% of the amount, an APR near 30% at major banks, and interest that starts building the day you take the money out with no grace period.
Check These Four Things First
Your cash advance limit is not the same as your credit limit. It’s usually capped at roughly 20% to 30% of your overall line. The figure appears on your monthly statement and in your online account.
For an ATM withdrawal, you need a four-digit PIN tied to the card. If you never set one or can’t remember it, request a new one through your issuer’s app or by phone. Most issuers mail it within about two weeks, so this isn’t a same-day fix.
For a teller withdrawal, bring the physical card and a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Banks are required to verify identity with unexpired government ID before processing the transaction.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks
Then look at the fee disclosure table in your card agreement, sometimes called the Schumer box. Federal law requires issuers to lay out rates and fees in a standardized table, including the specific APR and fee for cash advances.2Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The Regulation Z Amendments for Open-End Credit Disclosures Reading it before you withdraw tells you exactly what the advance will cost.
Withdrawing at an ATM
This is the fastest method. Insert the credit card, enter your PIN, and choose the menu option labeled “cash advance,” “cash withdrawal,” or “credit.” Some machines ask you to select “credit” as the account type instead of checking or savings. Enter the amount, confirm, and take your cash and receipt.
ATMs cap each transaction or each day, commonly between $300 and $1,000, regardless of how much advance credit you have. If you need more than the machine will give you in one shot, a teller or convenience check works better.
Out-of-network machines add their own surcharge on top of your issuer’s cash advance fee. The combined out-of-network surcharge and foreign-transaction fee averages about $4.77 per withdrawal.3Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Cash-back Fees That surcharge stacks on top of the percentage fee your card issuer charges.
Withdrawing at a Bank Teller
Walk into any bank or credit union that participates in your card’s payment network. The Visa or Mastercard logo on the door tells you it works. Hand the teller your card and your photo ID, and tell them how much you want. They’ll run the transaction and print a slip for you to sign, which authorizes the charge to your credit card account. Once you sign, they hand you the cash in whatever denominations you ask for.
A teller withdrawal is useful when you need more than an ATM will dispense in a single day.
Using a Convenience Check
Some issuers mail convenience checks that draw against your cash advance line. Fill in the payee, date, and amount, then sign. You can make it payable to yourself and deposit it into your bank account, or write it directly to someone else.
Convenience checks generally take two to three business days to clear, because both the depositing bank and the card issuer need to verify the check and confirm you have available credit. That makes them a poor choice for same-day cash, but they aren’t subject to ATM daily caps, so they work for larger amounts inside your advance limit.
What It Costs
The Upfront Fee
Most issuers charge 3% to 5% of the amount withdrawn, with a floor of $5 to $10, whichever is greater. A $500 cash advance at 5% adds $25 to your balance on day one, before any interest.
No Grace Period
Regular purchases usually come with a grace period of 21 to 25 days when you pay the statement in full. Cash advances don’t get that. Federal rules allow issuers to charge interest on a cash advance from the transaction date, with no interest-free window.4Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 1026.54 Limitations on the Imposition of Finance Charges Interest compounds from the day you take the money.
A Higher APR
Cash advance APRs run well above purchase APRs on the same card. As of early 2026, the average cash advance APR at major banks is roughly 30%, versus about 22% for purchases. Credit unions tend to charge less on both. The combination of the higher rate and no grace period means the balance grows fast if you carry it.
How Payments Get Split Between Balances
If you have both a purchase balance and a cash advance balance on the same card, federal law controls how payments are allocated. Any amount you pay above the required minimum has to go first to the balance with the highest APR, which is almost always the cash advance, and then to lower-rate balances in descending order.5eCFR. 12 CFR 1026.53 – Allocation of Payments
That rule only helps if you pay more than the minimum. On a minimum-only payment, the issuer can put the whole payment wherever it wants, and the high-rate cash advance balance may barely move. Paying as far above the minimum as you can afford is the fastest way to bring the cost down.
What It Does to Your Credit
A cash advance doesn’t show up as a separate item on your credit report. It rolls into your overall card balance the same way a purchase would. It can still drag your score down indirectly by raising your credit utilization ratio, which is your total card balance divided by your credit limit. Utilization accounts for roughly 30% of a FICO score, and a common benchmark is to stay under about 30%. Borrowers with the highest scores usually keep it in single digits.
A cash advance pushes utilization up faster than an equivalent purchase because the fee lands on the balance immediately and interest starts accruing the same day. Carry it for even a few weeks and the fee plus compounding interest can meaningfully bump your reported balance.
Cheaper Ways to Borrow
Before you take a cash advance, see whether one of these fits:
- A personal loan. As of early 2026, a borrower with a 700 credit score averages about 12% on a personal loan, well under 30%, and a fixed repayment schedule prevents the open-ended compounding that makes cash advance balances grow.
- An overdraft line of credit attached to your checking account. Rates are typically lower than a credit card cash advance and there may be no per-transaction fee.
- A payroll advance or earned-wage access program. Some employers and payroll platforms let you draw wages you’ve already earned before payday, often for a small flat fee or nothing.
- An informal loan from friends or family. No interest, no fees. Writing the terms down helps avoid misunderstandings.
A cash advance makes sense when you need physical cash right away and nothing else is available. Pay it off as quickly as you can once you have it.