Foremost, withdrawing cash using a credit card can be very costly if you do not repay quickly. Interest rates on credit card loan withdrawals can range from 20-40 per cent on an annual basis. For nearly all cards, the interest rate on cash withdrawals and credit outstanding for purchases made are the same. But here is the kicker - for the purchases you make through your card, you get an interest-free period to pay back. Cash withdrawals on your card have no such benefits; interest is charged from the moment you withdraw the cash.

And, do not forget the transaction charge, levied on the withdrawal at the ATM. The average interest rate charged for a personal loan is in the range of 12-22 per cent , whereas the average interest rate is 20-40 per cent for withdrawal from a credit card.

Therefore, unless in a very real emergency where you need instant cash, it is advisable to not withdraw cash on your credit card. It is always better to go for a personal loan. It is the fastest of all retail loan products and the interest rates are a lot lesser than those on credit card withdrawals.

Hardeep Singh has published 93 articles. Article submitted on Tuesday 09th February 2010. Word count: 337