Yes, you can use your credit card at an ATM, but it costs more than a debit card and works differently than a purchase

Most credit cards let you withdraw cash at an ATM, but the transaction is called a cash advance, not a regular purchase. The moment you take the money out, you start paying interest — usually a higher rate than your regular purchase APR. You also pay an upfront fee, either a flat dollar amount (often $3 to $5) or a percentage of the amount withdrawn (typically 3 to 5%), whichever is greater.

The cash advance starts accruing interest immediately with no grace period. If you carry a purchase balance, the cash advance interest is calculated separately and usually at a higher rate. For example, if your purchase APR is 18%, your cash advance APR might be 24% or higher. This makes ATM withdrawals one of the most expensive ways to use a credit card.

You can use your credit card at any ATM that displays your card's network logo — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. The ATM itself may also charge you a fee (the operator's fee), which appears on top of your card issuer's fee. You'll see the total cost before you confirm the withdrawal.

Key Takeaways

  • Cash advances charge interest immediately with no grace period, and the interest rate is typically higher than your purchase rate.
  • You pay two fees on a cash advance: one from your card issuer (usually $3 to $5 or 3 to 5% of the amount) and potentially one from the ATM operator.
  • The cash advance appears as a separate balance on your statement and accrues interest independently from any purchase balance you carry.
  • Using a debit card or getting cash back at a store checkout costs far less than a credit card cash advance.

How the fees and interest actually stack up

Let's say you withdraw $200 from an ATM using your credit card. Your issuer charges a $5 flat fee or 5% ($10), whichever is greater — so you pay $10. The ATM operator charges an additional $2.50. You've now paid $12.50 just to get the cash, and you haven't paid any interest yet.

If your cash advance APR is 24% and you carry that $200 balance for 30 days, you'll owe roughly $12 in interest on top of the $12.50 in fees. Over a year, if you never paid it back, the interest alone would cost you $48. Compare that to a debit card withdrawal (no fee, no interest) or getting $200 cash back at a grocery store checkout (usually free), and the credit card option is clearly the most expensive.

Some cards charge a flat fee regardless of amount — say, $3 per advance. If you withdraw $50, you're paying 6% in fees alone before interest. If you withdraw $500, the same $3 fee is only 0.6% of the amount. The larger the withdrawal, the better the flat fee looks, but the interest cost still climbs.

When you might need a cash advance and what to do instead

Cash advances make sense only in genuine emergencies when you have no other option — you need cash immediately, your debit card is lost or frozen, and you can't get to a store. Even then, the cost is steep enough that you should repay it as fast as possible.

In almost every other situation, there's a cheaper route. If you need cash and have a debit card, use that at any ATM. If you don't have a debit card, ask a friend or family member to lend you cash, or visit a store that offers cash back at checkout (grocery stores, pharmacies, and many retailers offer this free). If you're traveling and need local currency, use your debit card or a travel-specific card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

If you're considering a cash advance because you're short on money, that's a sign to pause and look at your budget or talk to a financial counselor. A cash advance is expensive debt that compounds quickly, and it doesn't solve the underlying problem.

How to find your cash advance APR and limits

Your card issuer sets a separate cash advance limit, which may be lower than your credit limit. You can find both your limit and your cash advance APR in your cardholder agreement or by logging into your online account. Many issuers also let you call customer service to ask.

The cash advance limit is the maximum you can withdraw in a single transaction or over a set period (often 30 days). If you try to withdraw more than your limit, the ATM will decline the transaction. Unlike a purchase, you can't go over this limit — the system stops you at the ATM.

Your APR for cash advances is fixed for the life of the card (unless the issuer changes it with notice), but it's separate from your purchase APR. Check your agreement to see both numbers. Some cards don't clearly label the cash advance APR, so look for language like "cash advance rate" or "advance APR."

What happens to a cash advance on your statement

The cash advance appears as its own line item on your monthly statement, separate from purchases. The fee is charged immediately, and interest begins accruing right away. If you have both a purchase balance and a cash advance balance, the issuer calculates interest on each separately, usually at different rates.

When you make a payment, most issuers apply it to the lowest-interest balance first (usually purchases), which means your cash advance interest keeps growing. Some cards let you specify where a payment goes, but you have to request that. To pay off a cash advance fastest, contact your issuer and ask them to apply your next payment directly to the cash advance balance.

The cash advance will show on your credit report as a separate account activity, but it doesn't affect your credit score differently than a purchase would — what matters is your total balance and whether you pay on time.

International ATM withdrawals and currency conversion

If you're traveling outside the US and use a credit card at an ATM, you'll pay the cash advance fee plus a foreign transaction fee (usually 1 to 3% of the amount). The ATM operator may also charge a fee in the local currency. You're also paying the card issuer's exchange rate, which is often less favorable than the mid-market rate.

For international travel, a debit card is almost always cheaper. Many banks offer debit cards with no foreign transaction fees, and ATM withdrawals with a debit card cost less than a credit card cash advance. If you don't have a debit card, some credit cards marketed for travel have no foreign transaction fees, but they still charge the cash advance fee and interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does using a credit card at an ATM hurt my credit score?

A cash advance itself doesn't hurt your score more than a purchase would, but it does increase your overall balance, which can raise your credit utilization ratio. If your utilization goes above 30%, it may lower your score slightly. The bigger issue is the cost — the interest and fees make it an expensive way to borrow.

Can I get a cash advance without going to an ATM?

Yes. You can request a cash advance by phone or online through your issuer's website or app, and they'll mail you a check or deposit it into a bank account. You'll still pay the same fee and interest rate, and the process takes several business days. An ATM is faster but not cheaper.

What's the difference between a cash advance and a balance transfer?

A cash advance is money you withdraw from an ATM or request from your issuer. A balance transfer moves debt from one card to another. Both charge fees and interest, but balance transfers sometimes offer a promotional 0% APR period for the transferred balance. Cash advances never do.

Will my card issuer let me withdraw my full credit limit as a cash advance?

No. Your cash advance limit is usually 20 to 50% of your credit limit, set by the issuer. You can't change this limit yourself, but you can call your issuer and ask if they'll increase it. They may or may not agree.

Can I use a credit card at an ATM that's not from my bank?

Yes. You can use your credit card at any ATM that displays your card's network logo, regardless of which bank owns the ATM. You'll pay both your issuer's fee and the ATM operator's fee, so the total cost is higher than using an ATM from your own bank (if you had a debit card).