You can get money from a credit card at an ATM. Although this is a convenient way to get cash if you need it and are out of options, there are significant downsides.
Using a credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM means you will be charged a one-off fee — typically a percentage of the amount withdrawn — and interest will immediately begin to accrue at the cash advance rate.
Some credit cards have significantly cheaper cash advances than others. Compare your credit card against others for cash advances.
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Key takeaways
- Credit card ATM cash withdrawals may be convenient, but it is a very expensive way to access money.
- Most cards charge a one-off fee and interest begins to accrue immediately at the cash advance rate.
- How much you can withdraw is determined by your credit limit, available credit, and the card's daily withdrawal limit.
- There are cheaper ways to do a credit card cash withdrawal worth considering.
What credit cards can be used to withdraw cash from an ATM?
Most Australian credit cards can be used at ATMs to withdraw cash, but not every type of card is supported universally.
- Mastercard. Accepted at almost every ATM.
- American Express. Widely accepted at ATMs, but less so than Mastercard and Visa.
- Visa. Accepted at almost every ATM.
How much can you withdraw with a cash advance?
Several factors determine how much cash you can withdraw with a credit card: your credit limit, available credit, and daily withdrawal limit.
- Credit limit. This is the maximum amount you can borrow with a credit card. It is not possible to withdraw more than your credit card's credit limit.
- Available credit. If your credit limit is $5,000 and you have a $1,000 balance, you have $4,000 available credit. If you do not know how much credit you have available, you can find out by contacting customer service.
- Daily withdrawal limit. Your credit card issuer may limit how much can be withdrawn within 24 hours. This limit may be lower than your available credit. You can find out what yours is by contacting customer service.
Credit card ATM cash withdrawal fees
Withdrawing money from your credit card at an ATM can be eye-wateringly expensive. These are the fees involved.
Domestic credit card ATM withdrawals
- Cash advance fee. A one-off charge per withdrawal. Typically ranges from 2-3% of the amount withdrawn, or a flat fee of around $5.
- ATM withdrawal fee. A one-off charge for the convenience of using an ATM. May or may not be charged depending on the ATM and card used.
- Cash advance rate. Often higher than the ongoing rate for purchases. Begins to accrue from the date of the withdrawal.
Overseas credit card ATM withdrawals
If overseas, these additional fees may apply.
- Currency conversion fee. Avoidable if you have a credit card with foreign transaction fee, otherwise it will typically be 2-3% of the amount.
- Local ATM fee. If the ATM owner charges a fee for use, this will also be incurred. The amount charged varies and may not be displayed on-screen.
- Overseas ATM withdrawal fee. Typically higher than the standard ATM withdrawal fee applied when withdrawing from a domestic ATM.
How to withdraw cash from an ATM with a credit card
Withdrawing cash from an ATM with a credit card works as it does for a debit card. You will need to enter your credit card into the ATM and follow the instructions on the screen.
- Insert your credit card into the ATM.
- Enter your PIN number. (This is not the same as your CVV number.)
- If asked, choose "Credit" and not "Debit/Transaction".
- Select or enter the amount of cash you want to withdraw.
- Choose whether you want to take a receipt or not.
- Take your cash and credit card from the ATM.
Example
Imagine you're holidaying in Bali and decide to withdraw IDR 2,000,000 (around AU $200) from an ATM using your Australian credit card. Here's a breakdown of potential costs.
- Foreign currency conversion fee. Many Australian credit cards charge around 3% for transactions in a foreign currency. That's an extra AU $6 for your withdrawal straight off the bat.
- Cash advance fee. Your card issuer charges 3% or AU $5 for cash advances, whichever is higher. Therefore, you'd be charged AU $6.
- ATM operator fee. The overseas ATM might charge a fee since it's not part of your issuer's network. This varies widely, but let's assume it's IDR 25,000. That comes to AU $2.50.
- Cash advance interest rate. Interest starts accruing immediately on cash advances, and it's often at a higher rate than purchases. If your card has a cash advance rate of 21.99% p.a. — which is fairly typical — and you don't pay it off for 30 days, you could accrue around AU $3.50 in interest for this withdrawal alone.
Adding it all up, that AU $200 withdrawal could end up costing you around AU $18 in fees and interest.
FAQs
Can you withdraw cash from a credit card?
Yes, you can withdraw cash from a credit card using an ATM. Although convenient, this is a costly way to get money because of the fee and higher interest rate (with no interest-free days).
Can you withdraw cash from credit card while overseas?
Yes, you can withdraw cash from a credit card while overseas using an ATM. However, you are paying — a lot — for the convenience. As well as the cash advance fee and high interest rate, there may also be an overseas ATM fee and a foreign transaction fee.
What's the most you can withdraw from a credit card at an ATM?
The most you can withdraw from a credit card at an ATM depends on how much available credit you have left and the daily withdrawal limit — if there is one — for the credit card being used.
