One of the transactions you can make using your credit card is cash withdrawal. Cash withdrawal with a credit card is similar to withdrawing cash from ATMs using your debit card, but with a credit card cash withdrawal, you are borrowing money from your credit limit, not from your checking account. When you make a cash withdrawal using your credit card, you must repay the amount just like you do with purchases you make using your credit card.
Cash Withdrawal Fee
Your credit card does not provide you a service by allowing you to make cash withdrawals, which can be done through ATMs or via convenience checks sent by your card issuer through the mail. The company will profit from this transaction by charging a cash withdrawal fee every time you withdraw cash from your credit limit. This is in addition to the interest charged from the day you make the cash withdrawal.
How Much is the Cash Withdrawal Fee on a Credit Card?
The exact amount of the cash withdrawal fee depends on your cash withdrawal amount and how your credit card company calculates the fee.
Most credit card companies charge either a flat fee or a percentage of the cash withdrawal amount, whichever is higher. For example, the typical cash withdrawal fee is the greater of $10 or 5%. So, if you withdrew $100 under these terms, your cash withdrawal fee would be $10, as 5% of $100 is only $5. On the other hand, if you withdrew $500, your cash withdrawal fee would be $25.
With some credit cards, a cash withdrawal fee can be charged on cash-equivalent transactions, which are transactions that are treated as cash withdrawals even though you did not withdraw cash from an ATM. For example, a cash withdrawal fee will also be charged if you used your credit card as overdraft protection, purchased a money order, loaded money onto a reloadable gift card, bought lottery tickets, or sent money to someone else. The fee for cash-equivalent transactions may be different from the regular cash withdrawal fee.
Your credit card company must disclose the method it uses to calculate your cash withdrawal fee.
Note: Please refer to your credit card agreement or the back of your billing statement for more information about your cash withdrawal fee.
If you have any questions about your cash withdrawal fee, please contact your credit card customer service department by calling the number on the back of your credit card. Learn how the fee is calculated before making a cash withdrawal, so you’re not caught off guard.
Can You Avoid the Cash Withdrawal Fee?
The only way to avoid the cash withdrawal fee is to avoid cash withdrawals and cash-equivalent transactions using your credit card. If you cannot avoid the transaction entirely, you can reduce the cash withdrawal fee you incur by decreasing the amount of cash you withdraw using your credit card. Because interest begins to accrue immediately on cash withdrawals, paying off your cash withdrawal quickly will reduce the overall cost of the withdrawal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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There are credit cards that do not impose cash withdrawal fees? Not all credit card providers charge cash withdrawal fees, so it may be beneficial for you to search thoroughly to find a card that does not impose a fee if you have to get cash this way frequently. You might have better luck with credit unions. LendingTree recommends cards from Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed). Typically, you must be eligible to join a credit union, but PenFed is open to everyone.
What other fees may credit card companies charge in addition to cash advance and interest fees? Most credit card providers charge an annual fee for the privilege of using their cards. You may also have to pay additional fees if you exceed your credit limit or make a late payment.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/credit-card-cash-advance-fee-explained-959991
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