Personal loan Switzerland
Personal loans in Switzerland, clearly explained in English
Check whether you qualify before you apply. CHF 1,000 to 250,000, effective annual rate 4.95% to 9.95%, free of charge and without obligation.
- Rules for B and C permits in plain English
- No fee for you, as Swiss law requires
- One request, several Swiss partner banks
- Request form in English, about 5 minutes
Loan calculator
Instalment in seconds- Effective annual interest rate
- 4.95 to 9.95 %
- Total interest cost
- CHF 2'039 to 4'129
- Fees
- none
Non-binding calculation. Your exact interest rate is set by the bank after it has checked your creditworthiness.
The question behind most searches
“Do I even qualify?” You are not the only one asking.
Around 6% of people in Switzerland name English as their main language (Federal Statistical Office, 2023). Many of them hit the same wall the first time they need a loan here. This is what usually gets in the way, and why it is easier to sort out than it looks.
No credit score to point to
At home you may have had a credit score you could check in an app. Switzerland has no single score. Banks look at a few registers and at your monthly budget. We explain exactly which ones on the eligibility page, so nothing comes as a surprise.
Rules that seem to change from bank to bank
6, 12 or 24 months in the country? A term limited to your permit? Online you find every answer at once. Our partner banks have one clear rule: with a foreign permit, you need to have lived in Switzerland for at least 24 months. Once you know that, you can plan.
A big bill at the wrong moment
A tax bill after switching from withholding tax to ordinary assessment. A rental deposit of up to three months’ rent. A car for the family, flights home for a wedding. These costs are normal, and they often arrive together. A fixed monthly instalment can spread them out, as long as your budget allows it.
Paperwork in German or French
Payslips, permits and letters from the authorities come in a national language, and so do the loan contracts of Swiss banks. On this site we explain every step in English and put the original Swiss term next to it, so you recognise it when it lands in your letterbox.
How it works
Three steps, no appointment at a bank branch
You do the first part online. The decision stays with you until the very end.
Check your figures
The loan calculator shows your monthly instalment. The budget check shows how much fits your income. Both run in your browser.
Send one request
Fill in the request form in English. You can attach your documents straight away or send them later. It takes about 5 minutes.
Read the offer and decide
If a partner bank makes you an offer, you read the contract in your own time. After signing, you still have 14 days to change your mind (Art. 16 KKG). Then the bank pays the money into your Swiss account.
Why yourloan.ch
Honest answers before you sign anything
Free for you
Under the Swiss Consumer Credit Act (KKG), nobody may charge you for arranging a consumer loan (Art. 35 KKG). You only pay the interest in your contract.
One request instead of five
Applying at several banks yourself can leave traces at the Central Credit Information Office (ZEK). We check first which partner bank fits your situation.
Written for people new to the system
Permits, registers, debt enforcement: every Swiss term is explained in plain English, with the German or French word next to it.
One instalment instead of several
Car lease, credit card and an older loan combined into one monthly payment. The debt consolidation calculator shows the before and after.
Repay early whenever you like
You may pay back a consumer loan early at any time (Art. 17 KKG). Interest for the months you no longer need falls away.
Your data handled with care
Everything is sent encrypted. Your details only go to the credit intermediary and to the banks that need them to assess your request.
Eligibility
Who can get a personal loan in Switzerland?
Every Swiss bank must check that you can afford the loan. These are the rules of our partner banks. Permits, documents and the most common reasons for a no are explained on the eligibility page.
- Residence: You live in Switzerland. With a foreign permit, for at least 24 months.
- Permit: Swiss passport, permit C or permit B. Permits L and G only in limited cases.
- Age: 18 to 70 years.
- Income: A regular income of about CHF 2,500 net a month or more (pensioners about CHF 3,000). Daily allowances and unemployment benefit do not count.
- Debt enforcement: No open debt enforcement (Betreibung / poursuite) and no certificates of loss (Verlustschein).
- Affordability: You could repay the loan within 36 months from your free budget (Art. 28 KKG).
Tools and guides
Find the answer you need
Loan calculator
Monthly instalment and total interest for any amount from CHF 1,000 to 250,000 and any term from 6 to 120 months.
Debt consolidation
Car lease, credit card balance and older loans in one instalment. See what changes each month.
How much can I borrow?
The budget check works the way Swiss banks do: income minus rent, health insurance, taxes and other instalments.
Eligibility for expats
B, C, L and G permits, the 24 month rule, the Swiss “credit score” and the documents you need.
Insurance in Switzerland
Health insurance, liability, car and 3rd pillar explained for newcomers. First consultation free of charge.
Loan request
Ready? Send one request in English. Free of charge and without obligation.
Questions
What expats ask us most
Can I get a personal loan with a B permit?
Yes, if you have lived in Switzerland for at least 24 months and have a stable employment contract. Some banks limit the term to the validity of your permit. Details are on the eligibility page.
Does Switzerland have a credit score?
Not a single score like in the US or the UK. Banks check the Central Credit Information Office (ZEK), the consumer credit register (IKO) and the debt enforcement register (Betreibungsregister), plus your budget. Several applications in a short time can show up in the ZEK, so it pays to check your eligibility first.
How much does a loan cost?
The effective annual rate ranges from 4.95% to 9.95%, depending on amount, term and your situation. By law it may not exceed 10%. Arranging the loan is free for you: Swiss law does not allow the intermediary to charge you any fee (Art. 35 KKG). The loan calculator shows both ends of the range.
Can I combine my car lease, credit card and existing loan into one payment?
Yes. A new loan pays off the existing ones and you pay a single monthly instalment, often at a lower rate. The debt consolidation page shows the before and after.
Will everything be in English?
This website and the request form are in English, so you understand each step before you start. The loan contract itself comes from a Swiss bank and is in German, French or Italian. Take your time to read it. You have 14 days after signing to change your mind (Art. 16 KKG).
I work in Switzerland but live in France, Italy or Germany. Can I apply?
Only in limited cases. Our partner banks lend mainly to people who have lived in Switzerland for at least 24 months, and this site is built for them. A few banks look at cross-border commuters (permit G) individually, usually only with a permanent contract at a Swiss employer. You are welcome to send a request, but please expect that the answer is often no.
Can I repay the loan early?
Yes, at any time. Swiss law gives you that right (Art. 17 KKG). You only pay interest for the time you actually had the money.
Want to know where you stand?
One request, free of charge and without obligation. We tell you honestly whether it works now, later or not at all.
Legal notice: Granting credit is prohibited if it leads to the consumer's over-indebtedness (Art. 3 UWG). Example calculation: Loan amount CHF 10’000, term 12 months, effective annual interest rate between 4.95 % and 9.95 %, total interest cost between CHF 264.16 and CHF 523.31. Terms from 6 to 120 months. The interest rate depends on creditworthiness.