Are you thinking about sending money to a friend or buying cryptocurrency with your credit card? It could cost you. Many card issuers consider these types of transactions “cash-like" transactions, which involve additional fees and sometimes a higher APR. Learn what you need to know about cash-like transactions, how much they’ll cost you, and ways to avoid them. Show
Key Takeaways
Definition and Examples of Cash-Like Credit Card TransactionsIf you make a credit card transaction where money is being transferred to another method of payment that can be converted to or used as cash, it likely falls into the cash-like or cash-equivalent transaction category. These transactions usually come with a cash advance fee. Common cash-like transactions include the purchase of:
NoteCash-like transactions may not earn rewards. If you plan to buy a large amount of cryptocurrency on a card to take advantage of a rewards deal, double-check the terms because this type of transaction may not be eligible. Buying Cryptocurrency Now Is Considered Cash-Like TransactionsVisa and Mastercard have made headlines for categorizing cryptocurrency card purchases as cash advances. Because banks treat crypto purchases like cash advances, you’ll likely have to pay a cash-advance fee and APR on top of whatever fee the cryptocurrency exchange might charge for transactions. Some exchanges, such as Coinbase, only accept bank accounts, debit cards, bank wire, or PayPal anyway—so saving up cash to buy cryptocurrency not only may be more affordable, it may be required depending on which exchange you choose. How Do Cash-Like Transactions Work?Major credit card companies have similar guidelines for what counts as a cash-like transaction. Here’s an overview of what transactions count as cash-like and what the fee might be:
Whether or not it makes sense to do a cash-like transaction depends on the fee involved and when you can pay off the balance. If the card charges a high APR on cash-like transactions, keeping that balance on your card could get pretty expensive. For example,if you want to invest $2,000 into Dogecoin through Coinmama and your card has a 5% fee for cash-like transactions, that works out to a $100 fee your issuer adds to your balance. If you make just the minimum payment on a balance of $2,100 each month with an APR of 24.99%, your total interest paid over a year would equal $499.10. In just 12 months, you could rack up interest charges that equal about 25% of the initial investment. NoteIf you’re low on cash and thinking about doing a cash-like transaction, consider using a credit card interest calculator to map out how much it might cost before moving forward. Avoiding Cash-Like Transaction FeesWhen you’re low on cash, you have to use workarounds to get cash with your credit card and avoid fees. While these methods aren’t recommended, they might help you get out of a jam:
In a perfect world, cash-like transactions would be done sparingly since they can get expensive. However, things happen. If you have to make a cash-like transaction in a pinch, paying off the balance quickly can help minimize the financial hit you take from fees and interest charges. Does Bank of America charge a fee for using PayPal?PayPal Transfer to a Bank Account
An instant transfer will only take about 30 minutes, but you'll pay a fee of 1.75% of the transaction amount.
Does PayPal charge as cash advance?Payments made through PayPal aren't considered cash advances, so you shouldn't expect a fee or cash advance APR on the transaction from your bank.
Does Bank of America charge cash advance for venmo?Bank of America: If using a Bank of America card on Venmo, you'll likely get hit with a cash advance fee.
Does Bank of America allow cash advance?Use an ATM
You can get a cash advance from your Bank of America credit card from any ATM that displays Visa and Mastercard logos. You'll need a PIN to use your credit card for this type of transaction, and you can request it through your online account or call the number on the back of your card.
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