"Flash loan" (also known as flash loan, mini-loan, mini-credit, or colloquially snack loan/strangle loan) is a short-term money loan, ranging from less than 1 month to sometimes 1 year. They involve relatively small amounts, usually less than €500, but the interest rate is often very high, sometimes as high as 25%, and the closing commission can also be substantial. Because of these unfavorable terms, these loans are sometimes called "strangle loans.

Flash loans are typically used to bridge liquidity gaps until the next paycheck. While these loans may seem attractive because of their quick availability, they often come with hidden fees that greatly inflate the actual cost, sometimes up to 500% on an annual basis. In the Netherlands, flash loans now fall under the supervision of the Financial Markets Authority (AFM), and a maximum annualized credit fee of 14% has been set to better protect consumers from usurious interest rates.