When you need cash because of an emergency or to pay bills, you may wonder if it's possible to withdraw it from your credit card. It is; many credit card companies do allow you to get funds from your card through a cash advance. You can normally do this at an ATM: insert your credit card, enter your PIN, and you should see an option for "cash advance."

While that can be convenient in a pinch, cash advances also have some drawbacks. So before using your credit card to get cash, it's important to weigh the pros and cons.

How Credit Card Cash Advances Work

Typically, credit cards are meant to be used for making purchases. For instance, you use your card at the checkout in stores or type in your card number and expiration date to buy things online. As you make purchases, your available credit is reduced by that amount until you pay your credit card bill.

Credit card cash advances work differently. If your card allows for them (and not all do), you might have one credit limit for purchases and another limit for cash advances, which is usually lower than your purchase limit. When you take a cash advance, you're borrowing money against this credit limit.

What's more, cash advances begin accruing interest immediately—unlike purchases, where you typically have a grace period of 20 to 30 days to pay off your bill before interest begins to accrue.

There are a number of ways to take a cash advance, including:

• Requesting a cash transfer from your credit card to your bank account
• Withdrawing cash at an ATM
• Writing a convenience check to yourself and cashing it at a bank

The most convenient way to get a cash advance is typically from an ATM. To do this:

• Insert your credit card into an ATM.
• Enter your PIN.
• If you can get a cash advance in this way, you should see an option for "cash advance" on the menu.
• Select this, and the machine will ask you how much cash you want to take out. Select the amount you need.
• The machine will dispense your cash.

How Much Does It Cost to Withdraw Cash From a Credit Card?

Cash advances aren't free. There are several costs to be aware of when taking one. First, there's the cash advance fee. This is a fee the credit card company charges simply for the convenience of withdrawing cash against your cash advance limit. It may be either a flat fee, such as $5 to $10, or a percentage of the advance of amount, whichever is greater. The amount can vary from card to card.

You could also pay additional fees if you're withdrawing cash from a credit card at an ATM or bank branch. An ATM surcharge may apply, or you might have to pay a teller fee for this convenience.

The second part of the cash advance cost equation is the annual percentage rate (APR). In most cases, the cash advance APR is higher than the regular APR for purchases or balance transfers. And, as mentioned above, interest starts accruing immediately.

That's important to keep in mind if you're looking for a low-cost way to access cash. Compared to a short-term personal loan, for example, a cash advance could end up carrying a much higher interest rate.

When Cash Advances Don't Involve Cash

In some instances, transactions can be treated as a cash advance even when you're not withdrawing cash. For example, if you link your credit card to a bank account for overdraft protection any money that's used to cover overdrafts would be considered a cash advance. You may also find that certain transactions, such as using your card to purchase cryptocurrency, are treated as cash advances instead of purchases.

For that reason, it's helpful to read your credit card terms and conditions carefully so you know what is and isn't considered a cash advance.

When Does It Make Sense to Withdraw Cash From a Credit Card?

Withdrawing cash from your credit card may seem like a good option if you're in a tight spot financially. For example, if your car breaks down and you need to pay a tow truck company that doesn't accept credit cards, then it may be your only choice. But if the situation isn't urgent, you may want to research other options for getting cash since a credit card advance can be expensive. For instance, you might consider:

• Applying for an unsecured personal loan
• Borrowing money from friends or family
• Taking out a home equity loan
• Withdrawing money from an IRA or taking a 401(k) withdrawal or loan
• Liquidating CDs or selling off other assets to raise money

These options all have pros and cons, just like a credit card cash advance. Tapping retirement accounts, for example, can be an easy way to get money, but it could trigger tax penalties. And even if it doesn't, you're still shrinking your retirement nest egg. Home equity loans can offer low-interest rates, but you're putting your home on the line as collateral. Borrowing from friends and family may put money in your hands interest-free, but it could also lead to relationship problems if you can't pay it back as agreed.

The Bottom Line

Credit card cash advances have some advantages, but they can be costly compared with other ways to borrow money. If you need funds but it's not a dire emergency, take some time to research your other options before committing to a credit card cash advance. And if you do end up withdrawing cash from your card, try to pay off the balance as quickly as possible to minimize the interest charges.