How to Get a Cash Advance on a Credit Card

The four ways to take a cash advance

1. ATM withdrawal. Insert your credit card, enter your PIN, choose "cash advance." Cheapest if you use your issuer's in-network ATM. Daily cap usually $500–$1,000.
2. Bank teller. Walk into any bank, show your card and ID, request a cash advance. No PIN needed. Lets you exceed the ATM daily cap up to your full advance limit.
3. Convenience check. Many issuers mail blank checks tied to your account. Write one to yourself, deposit it. Same fees as an ATM advance.
4. Direct transfer. Inside your issuer's app or website, transfer cash from the card to your bank. Cleanest option, but not every issuer offers it.

What it actually costs

• Transaction fee: 3%–5% of the amount, $10 minimum. ($500 advance → $15–$25 fee.)
• Cash-advance APR: Typically 25–30%, often higher than your purchase APR.
• No grace period. Interest accrues from day one — there's no 21–25 day window like there is on purchases.
• ATM surcharge: $3–$5 if you use an out-of-network machine.

How to keep the cost low

• Use your bank's own ATM to avoid the surcharge.
• Pay it off as fast as possible — every day of carried balance adds interest.
• If your statement closes soon, paying the advance off before the close date dramatically reduces total interest.
• Check whether your payment is applied to the advance balance first or last — most issuers apply payments to the highest-APR balance only after the statement minimum is met.

When it's the right call — and when it isn't

A credit-card cash advance beats a payday loan almost every time. But if you'll carry the balance more than 60 days, a small personal installment loan at 12–25% APR is usually cheaper. Compare them in our APR calculator.