By John Egan
Edited by Michelle TipswordCan You Use a Credit Card at an ATM?
By John EganEdited by Michelle Tipsword
Quick Answer
You can use a credit card at an ATM for cash advances, but be aware of the cash advance fees, ATM fees and high interest rates charged for these transactions.
You're strapped for cash, and you don't want to explore options such as a personal loan or payday loan. What do you do? One possible answer: You may be able to withdraw cash from an ATM using your credit card, a process known as a cash advance.
If you go through with a credit card cash advance, be mindful that you could face a cash advance fee as high as 5% of the amount you withdraw. Plus, the annual percentage rate (APR) for a cash advance will likely be higher than the APR for a regular purchase. Consider the risks carefully before using your credit card for a cash advance at an ATM.
What Is a Cash Advance?
A cash advance is essentially a short-term loan from a credit card issuer.
Most credit cards allow you to borrow a certain amount of money against your credit limit—generally hundreds or thousands of dollars. However, you likely won't be allowed to borrow as much money as your regular credit limit would permit.
You can find a card's cash advance limit by reading your credit card statement, checking your online account or contacting the card issuer.
When you take out a credit card cash advance, the amount you borrow is tacked onto your credit card balance. This decreases the amount you can charge on your credit card.
Example: You have a credit card with a limit of $10,000. This card has a balance of $1,000 from regular purchases, and you take out a cash advance of $2,000. Your new credit card balance is $3,000 and you have $7,000 of your credit limit left to use.
Learn more: What Is a Schumer Box?
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How Much Does a Cash Advance Cost?
Credit card issuers generally charge fees and a higher interest rate when you take out a cash advance.
In terms of fees, you'll usually be charged 3% to 5% of the cash advance amount or a flat amount, whichever is greater. So, a 5% fee on a $1,000 cash advance would be $50. In addition, you might be hit with a flat ATM fee of $2 to $5 when you withdraw your cash advance.
You'll likely be charged a higher APR for a credit card cash advance than a purchase. For instance, a card's cash advance APR might be 29.99%, while the purchase APR might be 22.99%.
Tip: Interest charges for a cash advance normally start as soon as you borrow the money, meaning there's no grace period like there is with regular purchases on most cards.
Do Cash Advances Hurt Your Credit Score?
A cash advance can hurt your credit score, but how much depends on your unique credit profile.
Borrowing against your credit limit means your credit utilization rate will go up. Your credit utilization rate measures how much of your available revolving credit you're using, and it's an important factor in your credit score calculations. Consumers with the best credit scores typically have credit utilization rates below 10%, but a credit utilization above 30% can do extra harm to your credit scores.
What to Consider Before Using Your Credit Card at an ATM
Questions to ask before using your credit card at an ATM include:
- Is a credit card cash advance the best option for borrowing money?
- How much is the credit limit for cash advances?
- What is the daily ATM withdrawal limit?
- What is the cash advance APR?
- What will the credit card issuer's fee be for a cash advance?
- How soon can I pay off the cash advance balance? Cash advances normally don't come with grace periods, meaning interest charges will kick in right away.
How to Use Your Credit Card at an ATM
When using a credit card at an ATM for a cash advance, you typically:
- Insert the card into the ATM.
- Enter the card's PIN.
- Choose the amount you want to borrow.
- Withdraw the cash.
Most ATMs limit the amount of money you can withdraw from an ATM per day, as well as the number of daily transactions. Therefore, you might need to go to a financial institution's branch to get a cash advance if it exceeds a few hundred dollars.
If you don't have access to your credit card PIN, you might be able to find it in your online account. Otherwise, you may be able to request a new one online. You also can reach out to the card issuer to obtain a PIN, but you might not receive it in the mail for several days.
Alternatives to Cash Advances
Cash advances are an expensive way to borrow money. As a result, you may want to look into these alternatives.
- Personal loan: Although you probably can get money from a cash advance more quickly, it's worthwhile to look into a personal loan, which you pay back in fixed monthly amounts over a certain time period. The biggest benefit of a personal loan: You'll usually be charged a lower interest rate than a cash advance. Keep in mind that most lenders will check your credit score and debt-to-income ratio before approving a personal loan application.
- Loan from friends or family: You might approach a friend or relative if you need to borrow money. If you go down this road, make sure you treat the loan just like a loan you'd take out at a financial institution. Put your loan agreement in writing, including the amount of money being borrowed, the timeline for paying back the loan and, if there is one, the interest rate being charged.
- Credit card with promotional 0% intro APR: If you need the funds to make a purchase that can use a credit card, you might consider applying for a card with an introductory 0% APR. This type of card lets you make interest-free purchases and balance transfers, but not interest-free cash advances. The 12- to 21-month intro period might provide enough time to pay off the balance without paying interest.
- Credit card purchase: Instead of obtaining a cash advance to buy something and being stuck with fees and higher interest, it might be wise to make the purchase with a credit card. Be sure to check the card's APR ahead of time.
- Credit card loan program: Some credit card issuers offer loans, or installment plans, that extend credit at a lower APR than a cash advance. These loans allow you to fold eligible purchases of $100 or more into a repayment plan with fixed monthly payments spread across a certain period.
- Buy now, pay later: Buy now, pay later (BNPL) plans let you make a purchase and pay it back over time through fixed monthly or weekly payments. BNPL plans are available from various retailers through lenders such as Affirm and PayPal. Most BNPL plans don't charge interest if you make payments on time.
The Bottom Line
When you're in a bind, a credit card cash advance made at an ATM can provide quick access to money. But these advances typically come with higher interest rates and fees.
If you're considering a cash advance or its alternative, knowing where your credit stands is important to understanding your options. Check your FICO® ScoreΘ and credit report free from Experian anytime.
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About the author
John Egan
John Egan is a freelance writer, editor and content marketing strategist in Austin, Texas. His work has been published by outlets such as CreditCards.com, Bankrate, Credit Karma, LendingTree, PolicyGenius, HuffPost, National Real Estate Investor and Urban Land.
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