Loans for retirees in Switzerland: financing with AHV and pension fund income.
Yes, loans for retirees exist, and we find the right one for you.
A common misconception is that once you are retired, you can no longer get a loan in Switzerland. That is simply not true. What matters is not your age, but your creditworthiness, meaning a stable, regular pension income and a clean credit record. The AHV pension and the benefits from the pension fund (BVG) count as eligible income, just like a salary. This means retirees meet the basic requirement for a personal loan for retirees.
Loans are granted after an individual assessment: not every bank grants a loan to retirees, but some of our partner banks do. This is exactly where privatkredit.ch comes in. We compare the providers that actually finance a loan in retirement and obtain the right quote for you. The loan for retirees ranges from CHF 5'000 to CHF 300'000, with an annual percentage rate of 4.9 to 9.95 percent and terms of 12 to 84 months, always chosen so the payment stays affordable on your pension income.
What you need to bring as a retiree for the loan
These six points are what the banks check before they grant a loan to retirees. The more clearly you meet them, the better the terms of your financing in retirement, and the more precisely we compare the right offers for you.
Regular pension income
Your AHV pension and, if applicable, your pension fund income (BVG) must arrive continuously. They form the basis for your loan as a retiree and are counted in full as income, just like a salary.
Affordable monthly payment
The payment on your loan for retirees must be comfortably affordable from your ongoing pension income. As a rule of thumb: the payment and your other obligations should not overburden your budget. That is exactly what the banks check when assessing creditworthiness.
A term that fits retirement
The term is chosen so the payment stays affordable over the entire duration. Shorter terms mean a higher payment but lower total costs, and in retirement they are often the more economical choice for your loan.
Residence in Switzerland
A personal loan for retirees requires residence in Switzerland. The payout goes to a Swiss bank account, which is also where your pension deposits and loan payments flow through.
All income documented
Besides AHV and the pension fund, rental income, additional earnings from part-time work, or other regular income also count. Submit your AHV pension statement and pension fund certificate so the banks can assess your loan for retirees correctly.
A clean credit record
For a loan in retirement, the ZEK register in Switzerland is checked. Debt-collection proceedings, payment arrears, or outstanding debts lead to rejection. Other obligations such as existing loans, leasing, or mortgages are also taken into account.
Three steps to your loan as a retiree
Fill out the online request
Calculate the payment for your loan as a retiree, complete the short application, and upload your documents such as the AHV pension statement and pension fund certificate right away, securely and encrypted.
Receive your offer
Once your documents are complete, you receive your personal offer for the loan for retirees within 24 hours.
Payout to your account
After you sign the contract, the amount is transferred directly to your Swiss bank account.
Three things to know about loans for retirees
Term and credit capacity
In retirement, credit capacity matters most. Choose the term of your loan for retirees so that the payment remains payable from your pension income over the long term. Shorter terms lower the total costs, even if the monthly payment is higher.
Have all income counted
Funds in pillar 3a are locked capital and do not count as monthly income. AHV, the pension fund, rental income, and documented additional earnings, on the other hand, are counted. State all your regular income so your loan in retirement can turn out higher.
Payment protection insurance is optional
Some banks offer optional payment protection insurance for a loan for retirees. It protects your dependents but raises the total price and is not mandatory. Ask whether it is required, and have the additional cost itemized for you.
Loans for retirees: the most common questions
- Autor
- privatkredit.ch editorial team, Editorial team for consumer credit
- Fachliche Prüfung
- Redaktionsinterne Gegenprüfung durch Kreditfachleute
- Zuletzt aktualisiert
- May 27, 2026, Inhalte werden laufend aktualisiert
- Unabhängigkeit
- Unabhängige Recherche, ausschliesslich offizielle Schweizer Quellen
- 1Federal Act on Consumer Credit (KKG), SR 221.214.1. Fedlex, the Classified Compilation of Federal Legislation. fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2002/593/de
- 2Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (AHV), pension benefits. Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO). bsv.admin.ch
- 3Central Office for Credit Information (ZEK). ZEK, Zurich. zek.ch
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