Guide
ZEK Entry: What Is Stored and What Does It Mean?
The Zentralstelle für Kreditinformation (ZEK – Central Office for Credit Information) is the central database for consumer loans and leasing contracts in Switzerland. A ZEK entry can affect your loan application. Learn everything important about the ZEK here.
What is the ZEK?
The ZEK is an information office that collects and manages data on active consumer loans and leasing contracts in Switzerland. All licensed lenders are required to report new loan and leasing contracts to the ZEK. The ZEK serves to protect against over-indebtedness.
What is stored in the ZEK?
The following is stored in the ZEK: active consumer loans with amount and term, leasing contracts, credit card limits, account overdrafts, rejected loan applications (under certain conditions), and payment arrears or reminders.
How long are entries stored?
Active contracts remain stored for the entire contract duration. After the contract ends, the data is generally deleted after a certain period. Negative entries such as payment arrears may be stored for a longer period.
Requesting a ZEK self-disclosure
Every person has the right to request a free self-disclosure from the ZEK. This allows you to check what data is stored about you. If entries are incorrect, you can request a correction. It is advisable to check your own ZEK data before applying for a loan.
Frequently asked questions
- Autor
- Redaktion privatkredit.ch, Fachredaktion Kredit & Finanzen
- Fachliche Prüfung
- Redaktionsinterne Gegenprüfung durch Kreditfachleute
- Zuletzt aktualisiert
- 3. Juli 2026, Inhalte werden laufend aktualisiert
- Unabhängigkeit
- Unabhängige Recherche, ausschliesslich offizielle Schweizer Quellen
- 1Bundesgesetz über den Konsumkredit (KKG). Fedlex, Schweizerische Bundeskanzlei. fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2002/593/de
- 2Haushaltsbudget – Richtwerte. Budgetberatung Schweiz. budgetberatung.ch