Flash Cash is a form of consumer credit that combines formal and informal finance and has some of the features of credit cards as well as travellers checks. A number of self-help financial groups ( called "tontines" ) in Cameroon deposit their funds, those that do not rotate, in bank accounts. Using these as collateral, the banks then issue a check-like instrument called flash cash to members of the group who can cash these "checks" at any store that participates in the program with the bank. To some extent the large number of ROSCAS that one sees around the world are also providing consumer credit, typically for relatively large consumer durables.

Source: Prof. Dale W. Adams's postings in the DEVFINANCE mailing list.