What is the effect on the cash account when paying off a loan at maturity?

When paying off a loan at maturity, the cash account decreases. This is because the payment made to settle the loan obligation involves using cash from the company's resources. When the loan is paid off, the cash outflow reflects the amount paid to the lender, thereby reducing the cash balance in the company's accounts.

The focus here is on the transaction's impact on cash flow; as assets, cash decreases when it is used to fulfill a liability, like a loan. This transaction reflects a decrease in corporate liquidity since a portion of cash is utilized to eliminate a debt, effectively lowering the available cash that the company can use for other purposes.

Options suggesting that cash increases, remains the same, or fluctuates do not accurately represent the immediate and direct effect of paying off a loan, which consistently leads to a reduction in cash due to the outflow needed to satisfy the loan's repayment terms.