What is a short-term loan (Kurzzeitkredit)?
A Kurzzeitkredit (also called a 30-day loan or quick loan) is a special loan with an extremely short term, typically 30 to 60 days. Unlike mini loans or personal loans, the whole amount including interest is repaid in a single sum at the end of the term.
This form of credit suits short-term financial squeezes – for example when there are still a few weeks to go until your next salary. Typical amounts are between €100 and €1,500 for new customers, in some cases up to €3,000 in total.
Short-term loan vs. mini loan – differences
| Feature | Short-term loan | Mini loan |
|---|---|---|
| Typical term | 30–60 days | 1–6 months |
| Repayment | One instalment at the end | Monthly instalments |
| Amount | 100-€1,500 | 100-€5,000 |
| Payout | A few days; faster for an extra fee | 1–5 working days |
| Providers (DE) | Cashper, Vexcash | Various |
Cashper and Vexcash – the short-term loan providers in detail
Cashper is a brand of Bank DiMare Limited (Malta, licensed by the Maltese financial regulator) and offers terms of 15, 30 or 60 days. The second major provider is Vexcash from Berlin (lender: AS Magnetiq Bank).
Cashper terms in detail
- Loan amount: €100 – €1,500 (new customers), up to €3,000 in total
- Term: 15, 30 or 60 days (60 days with the 2-instalment option)
- Effective rate: 13.40–13.60% p.a. (fixed borrowing rate 12.50–13.00%)
- Standard payout: within 5 working days of signing the contract according to the provider (up to about 10 days without a service option)
- Service options: faster processing for an extra fee – the price is only shown in the application
- 2-instalment option: repayment in 2 equal instalments over 60 days, the first after 30 days
Vexcash: terms at a glance
Vexcash continues to grant short-term loans (as of October 2026): €100 to €3,000, for new customers up to €1,000 and up to 3 months, effective annual rate 11.13 % (borrowing rate 10.60 %). Representative example: €500 over 3 months, 3 instalments of €170.54, €11.62 in interest. Note: priority processing requires the Smart package at €69 per month – it is not included in the effective rate. Without Smart, Vexcash states 8–10 working days of processing time.
Ferratum Mastercard – the credit card alternative
Ferratum (a brand of Multitude Bank p.l.c., Malta) offers a digital credit card with a revolving credit limit in Germany. The Ferratum Mastercard starts with a limit of up to €5,000.
Ferratum Mastercard
- Credit limit: starting limit up to €5,000, depending on credit standing
- Fees: no annual or monthly fee
- Interest: borrowing rate 22 %, effective 24.36 % – only purchases that you settle within up to 61 days stay interest-free
- Repayment: flexible, at least 2 % of the balance per month
- Worldwide: Mastercard acceptance, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Available immediately: after card activation
This alternative suits users who prefer a flexible credit limit and do not want to be tied to fixed terms.
Costs & fees: what you need to know
With short-term loans the additional fees are often more expensive than the interest itself. Pay particular attention to:
⚠️ Cost traps with short-term loans
- Service and express options: they are not included in the effective rate. A €69 package on a €500 loan for one month already amounts to around 14 % of the loan amount – on top of the interest.
- 2-instalment option: check in the application whether spreading repayment over 60 days involves extra costs.
- Reminder fees: late payment brings high reminder costs and default interest, plus a negative SCHUFA entry (SCHUFA is Germany's main credit bureau).
Calculation example: the real cost
€500 short-term loan (30 days) with a €69 service fee:
- Loan amount: €500
- Interest cost (30 days, 12.71% borrowing rate): €5.22
- Service fee (illustrative Vexcash Smart value): €69
- Total cost: €74.22 (about 14.8% of the loan amount – for one month!)
Tips & warnings
5 important tips for short-term loans
- Express only in an emergency: service fees are almost never worth it. Better to allow 5–10 days of waiting time.
- Compare total cost, not interest: add up the interest and all booked extra options.
- Repay on time: avoid reminder fees and a SCHUFA entry by paying on schedule.
- Consider alternatives: an overdraft or a mini loan with a longer term is often cheaper.
- Choose a realistic amount: only borrow as much as you can safely repay at the end of the term.
Sources
The information is based on the providers' official websites and price lists (as of October 2026).
- Cashper.de – official website and price list
- Ferratum.de – credit card offer
- Vexcash.com – terms and Smart package
- Sections 495, 500, 502, 505a BGB – consumer credit law
- BaFin (German financial regulator) – information on regulated financial service providers