You can withdraw cash from an ATM using a credit card through what’s called a cash advance. The process works almost identically to a debit card withdrawal, but you’ll need a PIN tied to your credit card, and the costs are significantly higher. Before heading to the ATM, make sure you understand the fees, interest charges, and limits involved.
Get Your Credit Card PIN First
You need a four-digit PIN to complete a cash advance at an ATM. Some issuers let you choose a PIN when your card is first activated, but many cardholders skip that step or forget the number. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to set it up before you can withdraw anything.
The fastest way is through your card issuer’s website or app. Sign in to your account, look for a PIN or cash advance option under your card settings, and follow the prompts. Some issuers can verify your identity by text or email and let you create a custom PIN immediately. If that’s not available, you can call the number on the back of your card and request one through the automated system. A PIN sent by mail typically takes 7 to 10 business days, so this isn’t a last-minute option.
Steps at the ATM
Once you have your PIN, the withdrawal process is straightforward:
- Insert your credit card into the ATM.
- Enter your four-digit PIN.
- Select “cash withdrawal” or “cash advance” from the menu.
- If the machine asks you to choose between checking, debit, or credit, select “credit.”
- Enter the dollar amount you want to withdraw.
- Acknowledge the fee disclosure that appears on screen.
- Complete the transaction and collect your cash.
Not every ATM accepts credit cards for cash advances. If the machine doesn’t show a credit option, try an ATM at a major bank branch. Using an ATM outside your card issuer’s network may also trigger an additional ATM operator fee on top of the cash advance fee from your credit card company.
What a Cash Advance Costs
Cash advances are one of the most expensive ways to access money, and the costs hit from two directions at once.
First, your card issuer charges a cash advance fee on every withdrawal, typically 3% or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater. On a $500 withdrawal at 5%, that’s $25 just for the transaction. Some cards also set a minimum fee (often $10), so even a small withdrawal carries a noticeable cost.
Second, interest starts accruing immediately. Unlike regular credit card purchases, cash advances have no grace period. When you buy something with your card and pay the statement balance in full by the due date, you pay zero interest. Cash advances don’t work that way. Interest begins the day you pull cash from the ATM and continues until the balance is paid off completely. The interest rate on cash advances is also typically higher than your card’s purchase rate. It’s common to see cash advance APRs in the mid-to-high 20% range, though the exact rate depends on your card agreement.
If an out-of-network ATM charges its own operator fee on top of all this, a single $300 withdrawal could easily cost $20 to $30 in fees before interest even enters the picture.
How Much You Can Withdraw
Your credit card has two separate limits that matter here. The credit limit is the maximum you can charge across all types of transactions: purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances combined. The cash limit (sometimes called the cash advance limit) is a smaller portion of that total credit limit reserved specifically for cash transactions.
For example, if your credit limit is $5,000, your cash advance limit might be $1,000 or $1,500. You can find your specific cash limit on your monthly statement, in your online account, or by calling your issuer. The ATM itself may also impose a per-transaction withdrawal cap, often $200 to $500 depending on the machine and the network.
How It Affects Your Credit
A cash advance doesn’t show up as a separate line item on your credit report. It won’t be flagged as a cash advance to future lenders reviewing your history. However, it does increase your credit card balance, which raises your credit utilization ratio (the percentage of your available credit you’re currently using). Because cash advances start racking up interest immediately and at a higher rate, they can push your balance up faster than normal spending would. High utilization, generally anything above 30% of your total credit limit, can lower your credit score.
Paying off the cash advance quickly limits this effect. The longer the balance sits, the more interest compounds and the higher your utilization stays.
Cheaper Alternatives Worth Considering
Given the fees and immediate interest, a credit card cash advance should generally be a last resort. If you have a debit card linked to a checking account with available funds, that’s a far cheaper withdrawal with no interest charges. Many banks and credit unions also offer small personal loans or overdraft lines of credit at lower rates than a cash advance APR. Some payment apps let you send money to your own bank account from a linked debit card, giving you ATM access through your checking account instead.
If you do go ahead with a cash advance, withdraw only what you need and pay it back as fast as possible. Every day the balance remains adds interest, and there’s no minimum payment trick that pauses the clock.