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What is Cash Advance?

Cash advance helps when you need urgent cash at hand. But how do they work?

15 August 2023Lloyd Smith 9 min read
cash advance

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Credit cards and personal loans may help in emergency situations but there may be times when you need urgent cash at hand. A cash advance allows you to borrow money against a line of credit.

But as alluring as they sound with their quick funding and fast approvals, cash advances generally also attract high-interest rates and fees. That is why it is important to understand what you are getting into before you take up a cash advance.

Cash advances are short-term loans with a fast turnaround that you can borrow against an available line of credit, like a loan or a credit card. Most cash advances do not require loan security or a high credit score, making them easy to get approved for.

But they often have higher interest rates and fees associated with them. The exact rate and fees can vary according to the lender and the amount you withdraw.

There are different types of instant cash advances in Australia with varying modes of securing them.

Payday loans

Payday loans are short-term loans that need to be repaid by your next payday or within the next few weeks. These loans can be often applied for through an online application that can be completed and approved within one day.

If you are looking for bad credit cash advances, payday loans can be the way to go since you don’t need a good credit score in order to get approved. However, lenders will review your source of income and expenses to be sure you are capable of repaying the loan.

There are also payday loans for bad credit which you can opt for if you don’t have a good credit score.

Merchant cash advance

Merchant cash advances are unsecured loans for small business owners that conduct regular credit card and debit card transactions for their end customers. They are most suitable for businesses that require immediate capital in order to cover their cash flow shortages.

But it's important to note that a merchant cash advance isn’t technically a loan. The lender purchases your future business sales and you can use that to repay the funds.

Credit card cash advance

A credit card cash advance refers to borrowing cash through a credit card. You essentially use some part of your available credit card limit to withdraw cash instead of making a card payment.

If your credit card allows cash advances, you can use it to withdraw money from an ATM or inside a bank with a special PIN. There are usually extra fees associated with cash advances taken through a credit card and there will also be an interest rate applied over the withdrawn cash.

How cash advance works vary based on the type of cash advance you want to obtain.

Merchant cash advance

After your application is approved, you will be granted cash by your lender. Your repayment will not be based on APR, but you are to repay your advance along with a fee called factor.

The factor is sometimes higher than the interest rate on traditional loans. Repayments are based on sales and the repayment period can be anywhere between 3-18 months. In general, the higher credit card/debit card sales you can get, the faster you will pay the cash advance.

Payday loans

Payday loans work just like other types of loans. It's just that they have to be repaid within a short period and there is a limit to the amount you can borrow. You can borrow anywhere between $100- $5000.

Payday loans attract higher interest rates and fees such as establishment fees, account keeping fees, government fees, default fees, and the cost of enforcement.

The repayment period for payday loans can range between 16 days and 2 years. The repayment may be weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, depending on the loan terms. Your lender may prefer a direct deduction of the loan from your account on your payday or at the end of the month. However, you can make separate payment arrangements with your lender.

Credit card cash advance

Credit card providers impose cash advance limits, a part of your overall credit limit. That means, you can only withdraw a limited amount of cash against your credit card.

The cash advance limit varies based on your credit limit, daily card limit, and available cash limit.

You can offset both your cash advance limit and credit card limit by making timely payments every month.

There are several ways of getting cash advances on credit cards which include:

ATM: You can withdraw cash with your credit card with a PIN, just like a debit card. The card issuer usually sets up the PIN, which you should receive when opening your account.

Bank teller: You can walk into the bank branch associated with your credit card to withdraw cash with a teller. Though you might only be able to do this in the bank branch that issued the credit card or an affiliate of your credit card issuer.

There are several fees associated with cash advances, including:

Cash advance fee

For each cash advance, lenders charge a cash advance fee which is either a percentage of the withdrawn amount or flat fees–whichever is greater. You can be charged a minimum of $5 and as much as $500. If the fee is calculated in percentage, it may range from 3% to 10%.

The fee may be deducted from the amount you withdraw immediately or added to your monthly repayment bill.

For a merchant cash advance, the factor is added to the principal amount and it needs to be repaid together. Payday loan fees are also added to the recurring instalments.

Bank or ATM charges

Aside from the card issuer's charges, credit card cash withdrawal from an ATM may attract a fee.

Interest

Interest is charged on the cash you withdraw. Cash advance interest rate is usually higher than the interest rate on regular loans or your credit card interest rate.

For some credit card cash advances the interest will start accruing from the day you made the withdrawal until the day you offset your cash advance balance in full. There might also be no grace period, unlike credit card purchases.

Unpaid interest will also accrue to your cash advance account and continue to increase your debt. As such, it is advisable to borrow a lower amount and pay before the deadline to avoid higher interest.

Pros

  • It is easy and quick to get cash without needing a cumbersome loan application.
  • It doesn't require multiple hard credit checks that may affect your credit score.

Cons

  • The interest rate can be high, and it can continue accruing every day.
  • It attracts additional fees.
  • Delay in repaying cash advances may eventually affect your credit score.
  • There is usually a limit to the amount you can withdraw.

Personal loan or business loan

Although personal and business loans may take time and require more paperwork, they may be better than a cash advance in terms of interest rate. If you have a good credit score, it is worth the stress. In the end, you can borrow more money and wouldn't have to pay higher interest rates like cash advances.

Purchase with a credit card

Make credit card transactions to avoid the need for credit card cash advance. Credit card fees and interest rates are lower, and you can also enjoy a grace period. If you pay in full within those days, you may not have to pay any interest. But before you get a new card, make sure you weigh the pros and cons of credit cards so you know what you are getting into.

Borrow from family and friends

You can get an unsecured cash loan with little or no interest from your family and friends too. Although it may be awkward, it will be easier to repay them than paying credit cash advances fees, merchant cash advance factor, or payday loan fees with higher accruing interest rate.

A cash advance is a facility provided to credit card holders that allows them to borrow a short-term loan against the credit line of the card. It is a quick and easy way to get cash now and pay later. You can either use the card at an ATM to withdraw money or visit the branch in person to request an advance.

The cost of a cash advance on a credit card is an important factor to consider to decide whether such advances are pocket friendly. It is computed on the basis of the cash advance interest, cash advance fee, and the amount withdrawn. Cash advances attract variable cash advance interest rate, which is usually charged on a daily basis. Unlike regular credit card transactions, there is no interest-free period for cash advance purchases.

The cash advance fee is charged as either a flat fee or a percentage of the amount withdrawn, whichever is greater. The fee also gets added to the cash advance amount, attracting interest. Lastly, ATMs may also charge a convenience fee for allowing you to withdraw cash using your credit card.

It is difficult to pinpoint the best cash advance credit card as each card issuer has different terms and conditions. You should compare the cash advance facilities provided by credit card issuers, and the interest and fees charged on the amounts to decide which credit card you should get.

In case you are in need of fast cash advance, especially before payday, there are a few online options available. Such cash advances loans are known as online cash advance loans. The amount you can borrow is not much and the repayment period tends to be extremely short. However, applications for such loans are processed more swiftly than conventional loan options.

Owing to the high fees (usually charged as a percentage of the amount borrowed and varies between 10 percent to 20 percent) and cash advance interest rate levied for providing cash advances, these options are not suited for long-term use. You should opt for them only in case of an emergency when you don’t have recourse to other avenues.

Here are a few popular types of online advance cash loans available in the market. Selecting the best cash advanced loan depends on your borrowing profile and how much you can afford to borrow comfortably.

Overdrafts

You can set up an overdraft facility at your current bank to borrow cash in advance. The lender will decide on an overdraft limit and allow you to borrow as long as you don’t breach it. The limit is determined based on the financial profile of the borrower.

You need to repay only the amounts you borrow, along with interest. A perfect credit score is desirable but not essential to get an overdraft facility approved at your bank as long as you have a good banking relationship.

Payday loans

These advance pay loans have an extremely short repayment period, usually between two weeks to one year. They are also extremely expensive, with higher than usual interest and additional fees. Borrowers with bad credit prefer opting for payday loans as it is easier to qualify. However, you should consider borrowing them only if there is an emergency and you have no other option.

Centrelink cash advance

If you receive payments from Centrelink, you can opt for a cash advance payment. While you don’t receive additional money, your existing benefits are paid in advance. Amount and eligibility depend on how long you have been a beneficiary.

Pay on demand

As the name suggests, this option allows you to borrow a pay advance before your actual payday for a small fee. Apart from employers, banks also offer this facility. These short-term borrowings can be useful to pay for unexpected expenses that may happen at the end of the month.

The amount of advance on credit card you can withdraw from an ATM depends on your card issuer. Some banks have a daily limit for each card, while some ATMs may also restrict how much you can withdraw in a day. Lenders may also impose credit card cash advance fees for this facility.

If you plan to borrow cash advances on credit cards, check the card agreement carefully to know the terms and conditions.

Information about cash advance loans does not feature in credit reports. Therefore, borrowing cash advances won’t impact your credit score directly. Having said that, if you miss repaying the advance, it can be listed on your credit report and bring down your score.

Moreover, the variable cash advance rate is much higher than the interest levied for regular credit card purchases. If you don’t have the means to repay the debt on time, your credit profile may get affected. So make sure to keep your borrowings in check to ensure you can pay them off comfortably without any delays.

The only way to avoid paying cash advance fees is by not borrowing cash advances. Regardless of the type of cash advance you borrow, chances are you will be charged a fee. Instead of a loan advance, consider whether you are eligible to borrow other short-term loans, especially interest-free options. You can explore whether borrowing from your friends or family is a possibility.

If avoiding advance cash loans is not an option, ensure that you choose a low-interest option to save on the total cost of borrowing. You can also save on the cash advance fee of credit card by borrowing a smaller amount, as it is calculated as a percentage of the amount borrowed. To find out the fees payable, you can use credit card cash advance fee calculator available online.

Also, remember that lenders start charging you interest as soon as you borrow. So paying off the advance as quickly as possible is a great way to save on costs.

A cash advance is an attractive but costly means of quick financing.. If you find yourself in a fix with no other option, it is better to take a lower cash advance and repay it quickly.

Before you take a cash advance, read your lender's terms and conditions thoroughly and check your credit score to better understand your eligibility for different cash advance offers.

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Written by Lloyd Smith

General Manager AU

Lloyd spreads the word about how awesome ClearScore is.