How much does a credit card cash advance cost?

Cash advances typically cost 3-5% of the amount withdrawn (minimum $5-$10) plus interest that starts immediately at 25-30% APR. There's also often an ATM fee of $2-$5. On a $500 cash advance, expect to pay $15-$25 upfront plus daily interest.

Can you get cash from a credit card at an ATM?

Yes, you can withdraw cash from your credit card at most ATMs using your card's PIN. However, cash advance limits are typically much lower than your credit limit (20-30%), and fees and interest are high.

Do cash advances hurt your credit score?

Cash advances don't directly hurt your credit score, but they increase your credit utilization (balance vs. limit), which can lower your score. High utilization above 30% negatively impacts credit.

How to Get Cash from a Credit Card: Cash Advances Explained (2026)

What Is a Credit Card Cash Advance?

A cash advance lets you borrow cash against your credit card instead of making a purchase. You can get cash via:

ATM withdrawal
Bank teller over-the-counter
Convenience checks from your card issuer
Online transfer to bank account (some cards)

Key difference from purchases: Cash advances have higher fees, higher interest rates, and no grace period.

Cash Advance Costs

Three Main Costs

Cost Type	Typical Amount	When Charged
Cash advance fee	3-5% (min $5-$10)	At time of withdrawal
ATM fee	$2-$5	At time of withdrawal
Interest	25-30% APR	Immediately (no grace period)

True Cost Example: $500 Cash Advance

Fee	Amount
Cash advance fee (5%)	$25
ATM fee	$3
30-day interest (27% APR)	$11
Total cost	$39
Effective rate	7.8% for one month

If Paid Over 3 Months

At 3 Months	Amount
Cash advance fee	$25
ATM fee	$3
Total interest (27% APR)	$35
Total paid	$563
True cost of borrowing $500	$63 (12.6%)

Cash Advance vs Purchase APR

Factor	Cash Advance	Purchase
Typical APR	25-30%	18-25%
Grace period	None	21-25 days
Fee	3-5%	None
Interest starts	Immediately	After grace period
Credit limit used	Different limit	Main credit limit

Key insight: Cash advances cost roughly 2-3x more than purchases due to no grace period and higher rates.

Cash Advance Limits

Your cash advance limit is usually 20-30% of your credit limit:

Credit Limit	Typical Cash Advance Limit
$1,000	$200-$300
$3,000	$600-$900
$5,000	$1,000-$1,500
$10,000	$2,000-$3,000
$20,000	$4,000-$6,000

Daily ATM Limits

ATMs also have daily withdrawal limits:

Card Issuer	Typical Daily Limit
Visa/Mastercard	$500-$1,000
American Express	$500-$1,000
Discover	$500-$1,000

How to Get a Cash Advance

ATM Withdrawal

Step	Action
1	Insert credit card at ATM
2	Enter PIN (must be set up in advance)
3	Select “Cash Advance” or “Credit”
4	Enter amount
5	Accept fees displayed
6	Collect cash and receipt

Don’t have a PIN? Call the number on your card to set one up (may take 7-10 days to receive by mail).

Bank Teller

Step	Action
1	Visit any bank with Visa/MC network
2	Bring credit card and photo ID
3	Request cash advance
4	May have higher limits than ATM
5	Sign receipt and collect cash

Convenience Checks

How It Works	Notes
Card issuer sends blank checks	Tied to credit card account
Write check to yourself or cash	Deposit in bank account
Treated as cash advance	Same fees and rates
Often promotional rates	0% for limited time (read terms)

Online Transfer

Some cards allow transfers to your bank account:

Card	Feature
Discover	Cash Advance to bank
Capital One	Cash at Check feature
Others	Varies

Cash Advance Fees by Card Issuer

Issuer	Cash Advance Fee	APR
Chase	5% (min $10)	29.99%
Bank of America	3% (min $10)	28.99%
Capital One	3% (min $10)	29.99%
Citi	5% (min $10)	29.99%
Discover	5% (min $10)	29.99%
American Express	3% (min $10)	29.99%
Wells Fargo	5% (min $10)	28.99%

What Counts as a Cash Advance?

Definitely Cash Advances

Transaction	Cash Advance?
ATM withdrawal	Yes
Bank teller cash	Yes
Convenience check	Yes
Wire transfer from card	Yes
Cryptocurrency purchase	Usually yes
Money order purchase	Often yes
Wire transfer/remittance	Often yes

May Be Treated as Cash Advance

Transaction	Depends On
Peer-to-peer (Venmo, Zelle)	Sometimes coded as cash advance
Casino chips/gambling	Usually yes
Gift cards	Sometimes
Lottery tickets	Usually yes
Foreign currency	Sometimes

Cheaper Alternatives to Cash Advances

Better Options (Best to Worst)

Option	Cost	Best For
0% APR credit card	No interest (if new card)	Large expenses
Personal loan	10-20% APR	Planned expenses
Paycheck advance app	$0-$15/month	Small amounts
Line of credit	10-18% APR	Ongoing access
Buy now, pay later	Often 0%	Purchases
Borrow from family	Usually free	Emergency
Overdraft protection	$35 per occurrence	Small amounts
Cash advance	25-30% APR + fees	Last resort

Personal Loan Comparison

Factor	Cash Advance	Personal Loan
APR	25-30%	8-20%
Fee	3-5%	0-5% origination
Grace period	None	None
Term	Revolving	Fixed (2-7 years)
Best for	Emergency <$500	Larger amounts

Paycheck Advance Apps

App	Cost	Max Advance
Earnin	$0-$14 (tip-based)	$100-$500
Dave	$1-$12/month	$500
Brigit	$10/month	$250
Chime SpotMe	Free (with account)	$200

When Cash Advance Makes Sense

Potentially Acceptable

Situation	Why
True emergency	No other option available
Very short term (days)	Can pay off immediately
Foreign travel cash needs	Limited exchange options
Avoiding worse alternative	Better than payday loan

Avoid If Possible

Situation	Better Option
Covering monthly bills	Budget adjustment, payment plan
Shopping purchases	Credit card purchase
Balance transfer	0% balance transfer card
Vacation spending	Saved funds

Impact on Credit Score

Direct Impact

Factor	Effect
Cash advance itself	No direct impact
Increased balance	Higher utilization = lower score
Credit utilization over 30%	Negative impact
Payment history	Late payments hurt score

Utilization Example

Scenario	Utilization	Score Impact
$3,000 limit, $500 advance	17%	Minimal
$3,000 limit, $1,500 advance	50%	Negative
$3,000 limit, $2,500 advance	83%	Significant negative

How Payments Apply to Cash Advances

Credit card payments apply in specific order:

Order	What Gets Paid
First	Minimum payment to all balances
Next	Excess to highest interest balance

Result: Your cash advance (highest rate) gets paid first if you pay more than minimum.

Strategy

Approach	Result
Pay minimum only	Cash advance lingers, accrues most interest
Pay more than minimum	Excess goes to cash advance first
Pay full balance	Eliminates cash advance entirely

Bottom Line

Credit card cash advances should be a last resort for true emergencies. The combination of 3-5% fees plus 25-30% APR with no grace period makes this one of the most expensive ways to borrow money. If you need cash:

First choice: Any alternative (personal loan, 0% card, paycheck advance app)
If cash advance unavoidable: Withdraw only what you need
Pay off immediately: Don’t let high interest compound

Key rule: If you can’t pay off a cash advance within 30 days, find another option.

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