Back to all articles
Financial Literacy

Need cash? Your credit card could be a solution

4 min readBy KasKasan Buddies
Published
Last editorial update

UnionBank PayDirect, Metrobank PayNow, and RCBC UnliPay let eligible cardholders send payments to supported bank accounts or e-wallets, subject to fees and limits.

  • Your credit card can do more than pay for purchases at stores. Some banks let eligible cardholders use their available credit limit to send payments directly to supported bank accounts or e-wallets, which can be useful for expenses such as rent, tuition, insurance, and professional fees.
  • These services come with processing fees, transaction limits, and restrictions, so it's worth checking the terms before using your credit limit to cover a payment.
  • Bank payout services let eligible cardholders send payments to supported accounts, including accounts belonging to other people. This can help cover expenses when the recipient does not accept credit card payments directly.

UnionBank PayDirect, Metrobank PayNow, and RCBC UnliPay let eligible cardholders send payments to supported bank accounts or e-wallets, subject to fees and limits.

  • Your credit card can do more than pay for purchases at stores. Some banks let eligible cardholders use their available credit limit to send payments directly to supported bank accounts or e-wallets, which can be useful for expenses such as rent, tuition, insurance, and professional fees.
  • These services come with processing fees, transaction limits, and restrictions, so it's worth checking the terms before using your credit limit to cover a payment.
  • Bank payout services let eligible cardholders send payments to supported accounts, including accounts belonging to other people. This can help cover expenses when the recipient does not accept credit card payments directly.

Your credit card can do more than pay for purchases at stores. Some banks let eligible cardholders use their available credit limit to send payments directly to supported bank accounts or e-wallets, which can be useful for expenses such as rent, tuition, insurance, and professional fees.

These services come with processing fees, transaction limits, and restrictions, so it's worth checking the terms before using your credit limit to cover a payment.

Bank payout is different from credit limit-to-cash

Bank payout services let eligible cardholders send payments to supported accounts, including accounts belonging to other people. This can help cover expenses when the recipient does not accept credit card payments directly.

Credit limit conversion to cash works differently. It converts part of your available credit limit into cash, usually deposited into your own bank account. The money can then be used for expenses, subject to the product's fees, interest, and repayment terms.

Both use your credit limit, so the amount still needs to be repaid. Neither should be treated as extra income.

UnionBank PayDirect

UnionBank PayDirect lets eligible cardholders send payments to supported local bank accounts and e-wallets, including GCash and Maya.

The service can be useful for eligible payments that would otherwise require a bank transfer, provided the recipient and transaction meet UnionBank's requirements.

What to know before transferring

  • Transaction limit: Up to ₱200,000 per transaction, subject to available credit and applicable bank limits.

  • Processing fee: Up to 5% for newly enrolled transactions, according to the provided carousel details.

  • Eligible recipients: Supported local bank accounts and e-wallets.

Check the latest fees and conditions before enrolling a recipient or initiating a transfer, as charges and eligibility rules may change.

Metrobank PayNow

Metrobank PayNow lets eligible cardholders send money to supported local bank accounts and e-wallets using their credit card.

Its transaction limits may suit cardholders who need to make payments to recipients who do not accept card payments directly.

What to know before transferring

  • Daily limit: Up to ₱50,000.

  • Monthly limit: Up to ₱250,000 per calendar month.

  • Processing fee: ₱25 or up to 1.65% of the transaction amount, whichever is higher, based on the provided details.

Before using PayNow, confirm the current fee schedule, eligible recipients, and transaction restrictions through Metrobank's official channels.

RCBC UnliPay

RCBC UnliPay allows eligible cardholders to send payments through the RCBC Pulz app to supported local bank accounts. It can be used for eligible expenses such as rent, tuition, insurance, and professional fees.

Transactions may also qualify for conversion into Unli Installment, subject to the applicable terms.

What to know before transferring

  • Processing fee: 3% of the transaction amount or ₱50, whichever is higher.

  • Payment options: Eligible transactions may be converted into Unli Installment, subject to its conditions.

  • Upcoming limit change: Starting November 15, 2026, the daily UnliPay limit will be ₱50,000, according to the provided carousel details.

Check RCBC's latest terms before making a transfer, particularly if you plan to use the service after the limit change takes effect.

Check the costs before using your credit limit

A bank payout feature can be convenient, but the processing fee adds to the cost of an expense. The amount also becomes part of your credit card balance and must be repaid under the applicable terms.

Before transferring money, check the following:

  • Processing fees. Calculate the charge before confirming the transaction.

  • Repayment terms. Make sure you can pay the resulting balance on time.

  • Eligibility and limits. Confirm that your card, transaction, and recipient account qualify.

  • Recipient details. Double-check the account name and number before sending money.

  • Restrictions. Some services prohibit transfers to your own accounts or credit card accounts.

These features are best used for planned expenses with a clear repayment strategy. If you're using one because cash is running short, compare the total cost with other available payment or financing options before proceeding.