Introduction

Credit cards play a crucial role in modern financial landscapes. In today’s cashless age, you can use credit cards to pay for goods and services. It is estimated that about 73 percent of Americans have a credit card by the age of 25. Certain situations or services demand payments in cash. If you do not have cash, you can make use of your credit cards to get cash advances in such situations. Read this blog post to learn everything you need to know about credit card cash advances.

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Wondering when to pay your credit card bills? Read more about it here: ‘The best day to pay your credit cards’

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What are Credit Card Cash Advances? 

A Cash Advance can be defined as a short-term loan that credit card holders can borrow in emergencies. Credit card issuers enable their cardholders to withdraw a limited amount of cash via various means. Common examples of cash advances include convenience checks, online wire transfers, digital payments, etc. Even though most cash advances generally levy high-interest rates and fees, it is still an attractive option due to the rapid process and approval rates.

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Below is a list of situations when credit card cash advances can come in handy:

1. When you do not have access to banks or ATMs,
2. When you have to make urgent bank transfers or payments, and
3. When you need small amounts of extra cash.

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Read more about ‘What is APR on a credit card?’

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Learn about the Terms and Conditions of Your Credit Card

Credit card cash advances are the most commonly used instrument to borrow emergency cash. You can withdraw cash from an ATM or by depositing a check at a bank. However, it is important to understand the terms and conditions. They can vary from one credit card issuer to another. 

Here are some important points about borrowing cash using a credit card:

1. Credit limit: Credit card cash advances are borrowed against your credit card’s credit limit. However, credit card issuers allow only a portion of your credit limit for cash advances. It is also important to note that the interest rates for cash advances differ from the interest on regular payments. 
2. Higher interest rate: Credit card cash advances generally levy an interest rate significantly higher than the internet rate for regular payments. 
3. No grace period: The interest on your credit card cash advance begins to accrue as soon as you withdraw the cash. There is no grace period.
4. Transaction/Withdrawal fee: Each credit card cash advance is granted against a fee. This fee could either be a flat fee or a percentage of the borrowed amount.
5. Cannot withdraw large sums of money: Most credit card issuers also limit the maximum amount of cash you can borrow. These cash advances are commonly used as a short-term solution for small and medium expenses and may not be sufficient to cover large expenses. 
6. Issue with minimum payments: If you opt for minimum payments on your credit card, it will first be attributed to credit with lower interest rates. For example, suppose you use your credit card for both purchases and cash advances. The interest rates on purchases are significantly lower than cash advances. Paying back the credit card payments in minimum payments will go towards paying the purchases first since it has a lower interest rate.

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Read more about ‘What happens if I do only the minimum payment on my credit card?’

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How to Access Instant Cash Using a Credit Card

Here are some easy ways to get instant cash advances using a credit card:

1. ATM Cash Withdrawals

ATM Cash Withdrawal is the easiest way to get instant cash using a credit card. You can follow the following steps to withdraw instant cash from an ATM:

1. Insert your credit card into an ATM
2. Enter the PIN 
3. Select the cash advance option
4. Enter the amount you want to withdraw

You can withdraw a limited amount of cash in a single transaction and may be charged a usage fee if you use an ATM to access the cash advance.

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Source: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/people-using-interfaces-isometric-colored-composition-queue-atm-withdraw-money-vector-illustration_26761248.htm#query=atm&position=3&from_view=search&track=sph

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2. Over-the-Counter Cash Advances

To use the over-the-counter cash advance option, you need to visit the credit card issuing bank in person and make a written request for a cash advance against your credit card. The bank might ask you to provide identification and authorization details. Over-the-counter cash advances are better compared to ATM withdrawals only when you need a larger amount of cash.

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Source: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/people-talking-with-managers-bank-flat-vector-illustration-clients-sitting-advising-about-taking-out-loan-opening-deposit-applying-mortgage-banking-service-department-concept_24644707.htm#query=over%20the%20counter%20bank&position=2&from_view=search&track=ais

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3. Convenience Checks

Convenience checks, also commonly known as credit card checks or access checks, are another way of getting instant cash via credit card. You can write this check to yourself or a third party. The amount used in these convenience checks is considered a cash advance on your credit card. The credit card issuing bank generally provides these convenience checks. 

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Source: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/flat-blank-check-template_15292313.htm#query=convenience%20checks&position=1&from_view=search&track=ais

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4. Mobile Apps and other digital services

Most credit card issuing banks have mobile applications or websites wherein you can transfer funds from your credit card to your bank account. 

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Source: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/payment-goods-by-credit-card-via-smartphone_5598702.htm#query=credit%20card%20payments&position=3&from_view=search&track=ais

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How Much Does a Cash Advance Cost?

Each credit card issuer has different interest rates and withdrawal fees. Using an example, let us try to understand how much a cash advance costs.

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Suppose you want to withdraw a cash advance of $1,000 and will be paying it off within the next month. Let's assume the cash advance fee is 5% of the borrowed amount. Assume that the interest rate on the cash advance is 25%. Therefore, the cash advance fee comes up to $50, and the interest amount will be about $21 for the first month, which brings the total cost to $71 in just a month. If you delay the credit card payment by one year, the total cost will be about $300. 

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The above calculation is only valid if you pay the entire sum in one go. If you make minimum payments towards your cash advance, it will take you about 6 years to pay back the whole amount of $1000. Also, you will end up paying about $2000, which is twice the borrowed amount.

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Tips for Responsible Use of Credit Cards

Here are some tips for using a credit card responsibly:

1. Make sure you pay your credit card bills by the due date every month. 
2. Try to spend as much over the minimum payments as you can.
3. Use the credit card cash advance option only in case of emergencies.
4. Use the credit card judiciously. Only spend what you can afford to pay back.

Conclusion

Credit cards offer an easy way to get instant cash advances in emergencies. However, you must practice caution while borrowing cash advances from credit cards. Generally, these cash advances have a higher interest rate than regular purchases. You will also have to pay a transaction fee to access the cash. There is no grace period for credit card cash advances. Make sure you understand the terms of your credit card issuer before borrowing a cash advance. There are many ways in which you can get instant cash using a credit card: cash withdrawals from ATMs, over-the-counter cash advances, convenience checks, and wire transfers via mobile applications, among other options.

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FAQs

1. How much cash can I withdraw using my credit card from an ATM?

The cash withdrawal limit is typically a percentage of your total credit limit. Contact your credit card provider to know your exact credit limit.

2. Is getting instant cash from a credit card a good idea?

It isn’t recommended to get instant cash from a credit card unless it is an emergency. There are high fees and interest rates associated with such transactions.

3. How quickly can I get cash from my credit card?

Cash withdrawals via ATMs are done instantaneously. Whereas other means, such as bank transfers, may take a few business days, depending on the credit card provider’s processing time.

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References

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/what-is-a-cash-advance-and-should-you-get-one/

https://www.investopedia.com/can-you-withdraw-money-from-a-credit-card-5069562#:~:text=The%20easiest%20way%20to%20get,accruing%20on%20them%20right%20away

https://www.hdfcbank.com/personal/resources/learning-centre/pay/credit-card-cash-withdrawal-dos-and-donts

https://www.bankbazaar.com/credit-card-cash-withdrawal.html

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/faqs/banking-faqs/cash-withdrawal-using-a-credit-card-important-things-to-note/articleshow/95321841.cms

https://www.icicibank.com/blogs/credit-card/credit-card-cash-withdrawal

https://www.creditcards.com/statistics/cash-advance-survey/

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cashadvance.asp

https://www.collegedata.com/resources/money-matters/5-tips-for-using-credit-cards-responsibl

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/credit-card-statistics/

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