How do you get a Plum Card PIN?

New American Express cardholders will get their PIN automatically when they receive their card in the mail. To get a replacement American Express PIN, call the number on the back of the card and ask customer service for a new one.

Best Way to Get a American Express Credit Card PIN... read full answer

1. Call American Express customer service at 1-800-227-4669 or call the number on the back of your American Express credit card.
2. Inform the representative that you want a credit card PIN.
3. Receive the PIN in the mail, over text, or by email. It’s unlikely that American Express customer service will be able to provide a PIN over the phone.

If you need a PIN for a cash advance, it’s important to note that cash advances have high fees and interest rates, so you generally want to avoid them whenever possible. And while adding a PIN will make your card slightly more useful abroad, you’ll still be able to get around fine in most travel destinations without a PIN.

The American Express security code is a 4-digit number on the front of the card – located above the card number, on the right side. The security code is important for making purchases online or over the phone, when the cardholder can’t swipe or insert their Amex card in person. Those transactions will require three components – the card number, the security code and the card’s expiration date. So if someone gets access to the card number but doesn’t have the security code, they cannot use the card to make fraudulent purchases.... read full answer

You might also see an American Express security code referred to as a CSC or CID. Those stand for Card Security Code and Card Identification Number. Other card networks may use terms like Card Verification Value, Card Verification Code or Card Verification Data.

If you get a replacement American Express card, it will come with a new security code and expiration date for added protection.

There are a few ways to get a cash advance on a credit card without a PIN. The easiest way to withdraw cash from a credit card without a PIN is to visit a bank that does business with your credit card company, ask the teller for a cash advance, and present your card along with a government-issued photo ID. You could also ask your credit card’s issuer for so-called ... read full answercredit access checks, which you can then use to withdraw cash from your credit line.

The other ways to get a cash advance on a credit card without a PIN are to purchase a money order from the likes of MoneyGram or Western Union, or link your credit card account to a service such as Amazon Pay. Alternatively, using an app such as Venmo, PayPal or Cash App can also help you pay people and businesses that can’t accept credit cards directly. Those services often charge a fee for using a credit card, but the transaction may actually be processed as a payment rather than a cash advance.

To get a cash advance with a credit card at an ATM, however, you need a PIN. But getting one is easy. If you didn’t create a PIN when you activated your card, you should be able to call customer service, choose your number and get it set it up right away. Some issuers, such as Bank of America and Discover, also let you set a PIN online.

Whether or not you use a PIN, you’ll want to be careful about cash advances. They typically charge high interest rates and a 2%-5% fee. Plus, there’s no grace period, so interest starts accruing as soon as you complete the transaction. But unforeseen circumstances arise for everyone, so here are your options if you need cash but don’t have a PIN.

Here’s how to withdraw cash from a credit card without a PIN:

• Bank teller: You can get a cash advance without a PIN at a bank branch, but you’ll need both your credit card and a government issued photo ID like a driver’s license or passport.
• Access checks: If your credit card issuer has sent you access, or convenience, checks, you can use them to withdraw cash at any bank that accepts them. Access checks are blank checks that draw on your credit line rather than your checking account. Some issuers send access checks without being asked, but you can also request them by calling customer service. Keep in mind that access checks are subject to the same high APRs and lack of grace periods as cash advances.
• Money-transfer service:You can buy a money order with a credit card from a service such as Western Union or MoneyGram. This would allow you to transfer funds to a recipient using just a phone number or email address. It won’t give you cash on the spot, but it could make it possible to ultimately spend part of your credit line in cash if you transfer the money to the right person. The transaction likely will be treated as a cash advance, however.
• Digital payment service: Apps such as PayPal, Venmo and Cash App allow you to make payments from a linked credit card account. That could remove the need to withdraw cash altogether, though these services usually charge a fee. The transaction may or may not be considered a cash advance, too, depending on the service and the credit card.

  Similarly, you can link a credit card to an Amazon Pay account and pay a merchant that way. The merchant needs an Amazon "Recipient Name," however. And if you don’t mark the payment as being for "goods and services," the transaction will be considered a cash advance.

So, there are a handful of different ways to get a cash advance on a credit card without a PIN. Just remember that cash advances tend to be quite expensive and should be reserved for emergencies.

For more information, check out our credit card cash advance guide.

Here are the best ways to withdraw cash:

If you need a way to access cash on a regular basis, it’s best to look for a cheaper, more sustainable alternative. Two options in particular are good for the job, though each will usually require a PIN of its own.

For example, you could just get cash with a debit card. You won’t be able to borrow money with a debit card, but it would enable you to make purchases from cash-only merchants. Just go to an ATM or make a small purchase at a store and select the cash back option.

Using a prepaid card is another possibility. A prepaid card is like a checking account with a debit card, minus the checkbook. You can use it to make purchases directly or to withdraw cash from ATMs. But it only allows you to use your own money and doesn’t help you build credit.