Why is this the wisest way to get the cash she needs? There is no interest charged when she takes her own money out of her checking account, but she would be charged interest beginning immediately if she took a cash advance. There is interest charged on a cash withdrawal from her checking account, but if she took a cash advance, as long as her next credit card payment pays her entire balance due, she won't be charged interest for the cash advance. Either way; she won't be charged interest, so it doesn't matter