{"id":46382,"date":"2026-11-10T12:26:53","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T11:26:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lica.ch\/?p=46382"},"modified":"2026-11-10T12:27:54","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T11:27:54","slug":"prepare-loan-file-before-bank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lica.ch\/en\/lica\/dossier-de-credit-preparer-avant-banque\/","title":{"rendered":"Loan file: how to prepare it before approaching a bank"},"content":{"rendered":"

A well-prepared loan file matters before any application for a personal loan in Switzerland<\/a>. For solvent employees and homeowners, a missing document can lead to an avoidable rejection. A recorded rejection can then be viewed by other lenders. The method: analyze your budget, check your records, gather supporting documents and select the lender before applying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loan file: what the bank really examines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The bank doesn't look only at your salary. It examines your repayment capacity<\/a>, your commitments and the information available about your situation. It also applies its own decision criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under Article 28<\/a> of the Swiss Consumer Credit Act (CCA), creditworthiness is assessed over 36 months. Repayment must remain possible without touching the subsistence minimum protected from seizure. This framework aims to preserve the resources needed for essential expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The calculation notably takes into account housing and existing commitments<\/a>. How taxes are treated depends on the applicable provisions. The reference to withholding tax in this calculation does not mean that all borrowers are subject to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assessment and contract answer two different questions. The 36 months are used to assess financial capacity. They are not a mandatory contract term. A longer proposed term therefore does not exempt you from this assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To review your loan file, the lender also consults the ZEK and the IKO<\/a>. It supplements this analysis with its own scoring and internal rules. These criteria may differ between institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A distinction must therefore be made between legal capacity and commercial approval. Indeed, a CCA-compliant budget<\/a> does not guarantee a favorable answer. On the other hand, good preparation helps identify missing information before it complicates the bank's review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In Switzerland, a solid loan file rests on a documented budget, without ever guaranteeing the lender's decision!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Analyzing your loan file before any application<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Start by reconstructing your actual budget<\/a>. Rely on your supporting documents rather than a quick estimate of what you have left. A comfortable income is not enough if your commitments already absorb your margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n