What counts as a cash advance
Withdrawing cash from an ATM with a credit card is a cash advance.
Many cash-like purchases are treated the same way: money orders, wire transfers, lottery tickets, casino chips and some person-to-person payments.
Convenience checks sent by the issuer are often treated as cash advances too.
What it costs
Cash advances usually carry a fee, often 3% to 5%, and a higher interest rate.
Interest starts on the day of the transaction. There is no grace period.
A cash advance never earns points or cash back.
Balance transfers
A balance transfer moves debt from one card to another, often at a low intro rate.
It earns no rewards, and usually charges a fee of 3% to 5%.
New purchases on a card with a transferred balance can lose their grace period on some cards. Use a different card for spending.
