The most common way to get cash from a credit card is through a cash advance, which lets you withdraw money at an ATM, bank teller, or through convenience checks mailed by your card issuer. It works, but it’s expensive: expect fees around 5% of the amount you withdraw, plus interest that starts accruing immediately at a rate higher than what you pay on regular purchases. If you’re trying to get back money that’s already yours, such as a credit balance from a refund or overpayment, that’s a different (and much cheaper) process.
Cash Advances at an ATM or Bank
Most credit cards come with a PIN you can use at any ATM to withdraw cash, just like you would with a debit card. If you never set up a PIN, call the number on the back of your card and request one. Some issuers will let you set it up through their app or website.
Once you have a PIN, insert your card at an ATM, select “cash advance” or “credit” (the wording varies by machine), and choose your amount. You can also walk into a bank branch with your credit card and government-issued ID to request a cash advance from a teller, which may allow you to withdraw a larger amount than ATM limits permit.
Your cash advance limit is not the same as your overall credit limit. It’s usually a smaller portion of your total line, and you can find it on your monthly statement or by logging into your account online. If you try to withdraw more than your cash advance limit, the transaction will be declined.
What Cash Advances Cost
Cash advances are one of the most expensive ways to use a credit card. The costs hit you from two directions.
First, there’s a transaction fee, typically around 5% of the amount you withdraw. Pull out $500 and you’ll owe roughly $25 in fees before any interest kicks in. Some cards charge a flat minimum (like $10) if 5% of your advance would be less than that.
Second, the interest rate on cash advances is higher than your regular purchase APR. While your purchase rate might sit in the high teens or low twenties, cash advance APRs often run several percentage points above that. Worse, there’s no grace period. With normal purchases, you get until your statement due date to pay in full and avoid interest entirely. Cash advances start accumulating interest the moment the money hits your hand. Every day you carry that balance costs you more, which is why paying it off quickly matters far more than it does with regular charges.
Using Convenience Checks
Card issuers sometimes mail blank checks tied to your credit card account. These convenience checks let you write a payment to anyone, including yourself. You can deposit one into your bank account and effectively convert credit into cash. According to the FDIC, these checks are treated as cash advances, meaning they carry the same higher interest rate and no grace period.
The transaction fee structure mirrors ATM cash advances, often around 5% of the check amount. So a $1,000 convenience check would cost you about $50 in fees on top of interest. A few important catches to keep in mind: if the check pushes your balance over your credit limit, the issuer may not honor it, which can trigger returned-check fees from your bank. You also won’t earn any rewards points or cashback on convenience check transactions. And unlike regular credit card purchases, convenience checks don’t carry the same dispute protections under federal law, so if someone steals and uses your checks, resolving the fraud can be harder.
Sending Money Through Payment Apps
You can link a credit card to apps like Venmo or PayPal and send money to another person (or another account you control), then transfer that money to a bank account. This technically gets cash off your card, but the fees add up fast.
Venmo charges a 3% fee on any payment funded by a credit card. On top of that, your card issuer may treat the transaction as a cash advance, adding the usual 5% fee and immediate high-interest charges. That means sending yourself $500 through Venmo could cost you $15 in app fees plus $25 in cash advance fees, totaling $40 before interest even begins. Using a debit card or bank account on these platforms carries no fee, so this route only makes sense in a genuine emergency.
Getting a Credit Balance Refund
If your credit card has a negative balance, meaning the issuer owes you money, you have a right to get that cash back. This can happen when you return a purchase after already paying your bill, receive a statement credit that exceeds what you owe, or accidentally overpay your balance.
Federal law (Regulation Z) requires your card issuer to refund any credit balance over $1 within seven business days of receiving your written request. You can usually make this request by calling customer service or sending a secure message through the issuer’s website or app. The refund typically comes as a check in the mail or a direct deposit to your bank account.
If you don’t request a refund, the issuer is required to make a good faith effort to return the money to you after six months. But there’s no reason to wait. If you see a negative balance on your statement, call and ask for the refund right away. This process is completely free, with no fees or interest involved, since it’s your own money coming back to you.
Cheaper Alternatives Worth Considering
Before taking a cash advance, it’s worth checking whether a less costly option is available. A personal loan from your bank or credit union will almost always carry a lower interest rate than a cash advance APR, and many lenders can fund a loan within one to two business days. If you have a checking account with overdraft protection, that line of credit is typically cheaper than a credit card cash advance as well.
If you need cash to pay a bill, check whether the billing company accepts credit cards directly. Paying a bill with your card as a regular purchase keeps you at your normal, lower interest rate and preserves your grace period. Some billers charge a small convenience fee for card payments, but it’s usually well under the 5% cash advance fee. For rent, medical bills, and utilities, this can save a significant amount compared to pulling cash and then paying.