How can I get a Mastercard cash advance?

The MasterCard cash advance fee is either 3% or 5%.

The majority of the credit cards under MasterCard's network have a 5% cash advance fee, however, there are some exceptions. All of the following cards have a 3% cash advance fee:

• Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Platinum Credit Card… read full answer
• First Digital Mastercard
• First Progress Platinum Elite Mastercard Secured Credit Card

There are some MasterCard cards without a cash advance fee, but only in the first year, like the Indigo Platinum Mastercard or the Milestone Mastercard.

Keep in mind, though, that cash advances are really expensive. Besides the cash advance fee their APR is much higher than the card's regular APR and you might also be charged with an ATM or bank fee.

Only do a cash advance if you have no other payment options available!

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.

To get a cash advance from a credit card, go to an ATM and insert your card, then enter your PIN and choose the cash advance option. After that, enter the amount you want to withdraw and acknowledge the fee disclosure to receive the cash advance.

You can also get a credit card cash advance in person at a local bank branch, or by using a cash advance check.… read full answer

How to Get a Cash Advance from a Credit Card

At an ATM

To get a cash advance from a credit card at an ATM, insert your card and type your 4-digit security PIN, then select the cash advance option from the menu. If you don’t already have a PIN, contact your credit card issuer to set one up.

You should be able to use any ATM with the logo of your card’s network (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover). Bear in mind that you may have to pay an ATM fee for each cash transaction. Your credit card issuer will also likely charge a cash advance fee, as well as a separate cash advance APR that might be higher than your card’s regular interest rate.

At a Branch

To get a cash advance from a branch, visit your local bank or credit union and ask the teller for a cash advance. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a branch of your specific credit card issuer, as long as they work with credit cards on the same payment network as yours. You will need to have your credit card with you as well as a government-issued photo ID to verify your identity.

With a Convenience Check

To get a cash advance with a convenience check, first get some blank checks from your credit card issuer. Credit card companies will sometimes mail convenience checks to their customers unprompted, but you can also call your credit card company to request some checks. You can write the check out to yourself or someone else. Once the check is cashed, the transaction will count as a cash advance. However, not all issuers offer convenience checks, so this option might not be available to everyone.

Watch Out for Cash Advance Fees and Interest

Before you decide to take out a cash advance, you should know that cash advances typically come with a higher interest rate than the card’s regular APR. The average cash advance APR is 20.7%. And since there’s no grace period on cash advances, interest will start accruing immediately. On top of that, most credit cards charge a cash advance fee, with the average fee equal to 3.75% of the amount advanced.

You can learn more about how cash advances work on WalletHub.