How much can I get from a credit card cash advance?

Your credit card issuer will usually cap the amount you’re eligible to borrow at a percentage of your total credit limit. As an example, if you have a credit limit of $1,000 and your card issuer offers cash advances up to 20% of your limit, you could borrow up to $200 if your credit limit was zero. Borrowers with good credit scores may be eligible to borrow more than those with lower scores.

Will a cash advance hurt your credit score?

A cash advance can be tempting if you need cash fast, but you might want to consider how it could impact your credit score. Because you’re borrowing money against your credit limit, you’re increasing your overall credit utilization (how much of your total available credit is in use). And if you can’t pay the balance right away, high interest charges can put you deeper into credit card debt. When your total credit balance gets too high, it can negatively impact your credit score.

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What is a Cash Advance on a Credit Card?

Q: Should you take a cash advance on your credit card?

Because a cash advance is an expensive way to borrow money, it may help to add up the potential costs ahead of your decision. You may also want to consider other ways to borrow money, like a personal loan, which could provide a lower interest rate. Understanding the short and long-term costs of any borrowing is key to finding the loan that’s right for you.

6 min read

Last Updated: September 11, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

A cash advance lets you borrow cash from your credit card’s credit line, up to your cash advance limit.
Due to a transaction fee and interest, a credit card cash advance may be more costly than regular credit card purchases.
A cash advance increases the amount of available credit you’re using, which may impact your credit score.

If you need emergency cash or you’re shopping somewhere that doesn’t accept a credit card, a cash advance may come in handy. A cash advance may give you the option to use a credit card to access the cash you need.

When you take out a cash advance, you borrow against your credit limit. Like a regular credit card purchase, the cash advance comes from your available credit.

However, due to additional fees and interest, a cash advance may cost more than a standard purchase. Understanding the benefits and risks of credit card cash advances may help you make the best decision the next time you need extra cash.

How to take a cash advance from your credit card

ATM: Set a PIN for your credit card to use it like a debit card at an ATM
Bank Teller: Bring a government-issued photo ID and your credit card to a bank
Online Transfer: Transfer cash to your checking account from your credit card account

What to know about a credit card cash advance

Your credit card may have a cash advance limit
The interest rate on a cash advance is often higher than the credit card purchase APR
Credit cards usually have a cash advance fee

Are there limits to a credit card cash advance?

Your cash advance limit is typically lower than your overall credit limit. Your financial institution may cap your maximum cash advance amount at a specific percentage of your available credit.

For example, if you have a $1,000 credit limit and your card issuer permits cash advances of up to 20% of your available credit, you may take out up to $200 in cash, as long as you don’t have an existing balance. If you do have a balance, your cash advance limit could likely be lower because you’ll have less available credit.

Your credit history may also affect your cash advance limit. Borrowers with good credit scores may qualify for higher credit card cash advances than those with lower scores. To find your cash advance limit, check your credit card statement or credit card agreement. You may also find information about your cash advance limit on your card issuer’s online or mobile banking tools.

Did you know?

The Discover^® mobile banking app can help keep track of your cash advance balance, credit limit, rewards, and more. Plus, you can review your spending habits, set travel alerts, and access premium security features.

See If You're Pre-Approved

Making a credit card cash withdrawal

Credit card issuers may offer several ways to access a cash advance.

ATM: You may get a cash advance by using your credit card at an ATM. To take advantage of this convenient option, you usually have to set up a PIN with your credit card issuer. Once you have a PIN, you may use your credit card at an ATM just like a debit card and walk away with cash in hand. Your withdrawal is subject to your cash advance limit and the ATM’s daily withdrawal limit.

Bank: You may be able to take out a cash advance in person at a local branch of your bank, credit union, or credit card issuer. You’ll need your credit card and a photo ID to withdraw the funds.

Convenience check: You may be able to request convenience checks from your credit card company. You may use a convenience check in the same way you use regular checks. Once a convenience check clears, your credit issuer deducts the amount from your credit limit.

Online transfer: Some credit card companies allow you to move funds from your credit line to your bank account with an online direct deposit. Log in to your credit card account to request the advance. Within a few days, the funds should appear in your bank account.

Using your Discover® Card for a cash advance

You can get a cash advance with any Discover^® Card through participating banks, ATMs, and credit unions. You can also deposit cash from your Discover^® Card directly into your checking account through online banking.

The cost of a cash advance

You may think of a credit card cash advance as a short-term loan. While it’s a convenient option for accessing emergency cash quickly, a credit card cash advance typically comes with substantial costs to keep in mind.

Cash advance fee: Your credit card cash advance will probably incur a cash advance transaction fee. The financial institution may charge a flat fee per transaction or a percentage of the total cash advance amount. Check your credit card agreement for details.

Cash advance interest rate: When you borrow cash from your credit card, you’ll often pay a higher interest rate than you do for regular credit card purchases. And while credit card purchases typically don’t accrue interest during the grace period between the purchase and the next bill, a cash advance balance may start accruing interest right away. So even if you pay your entire credit card bill on time, you may still owe interest on your cash advance.

ATM fee: Many banks charge a fee for withdrawing cash from their ATMs, whether you use a credit card or a debit card. A cash advance may even come with an additional fee.

Foreign cash advance fee: A cash advance may save the day if you need money quickly while traveling abroad. But you’ll have to decide if it’s worth the additional cost. You may get charged with higher transaction fees when you try to withdraw cash from your credit line in another country. That’s because in addition to ATM and cash advance fees, some credit card issuers also charge foreign transaction fees for transactions in another currency. So you may end up being responsible for those additional costs plus the higher interest charges.

Does a cash advance impact your credit?

Even if you can afford a cash advance, you might want to consider how it may impact your credit score. Because a cash advance increases your credit card balance, it also increases your overall credit utilization ratio—the percentage of available credit that you’re using. And if you don’t pay off your full balance right away, high interest charges may put you deeper into credit card debt.

A high credit utilization ratio may significantly damage your credit score. But that doesn’t mean a cash advance automatically harms your credit. Repaying your cash advance quickly may minimize negative effects on your credit score.

The bottom line

Ideally, an emergency fund should help you cover unexpected expenses, but that’s not always possible. A cash advance may be a convenient way to borrow money in a pinch, but it’s important to be aware of the cash advance interest rate and other costs. You may also want to consider other ways to borrow money, like a personal loan, which may have a lower interest rate. But if a cash advance seems like the best fit, try to repay it quickly to protect your credit score.

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