In short: What matters is not your gross salary but your freely available income — the amount that remains after all countable costs. That is exactly what the bank reviews under the Consumer Credit Act (KKG) before it grants a loan. We show you how this calculation works, which items count and how your maximum loan results from it — with the calculator above you can see your range in seconds.
How the bank reviews your creditworthiness
Whether a loan is affordable for you is something banks determine with a standardized budget calculation — in Switzerland usually via the KREMO system (CRIF/X-Lease). The principle is simple: all fixed living and housing costs are deducted from your countable net income. What remains is your freely available income, also called the attachable portion.
This portion is the benchmark: you may only repay a loan out of this freely available part. The calculation is based on the circular on the subsistence minimum under debt-enforcement law — the same basis that applies in a wage garnishment.
Countable is your net salary including the 13th monthly salary, bonus, commissions and allowances. The formula behind it:
Countable net income
− Base amount
− Fixed costs
= Attachable portion / freely available income.
Which costs the bank deducts
One of the big deductions is the monthly base amount. It covers basic needs such as food, clothing, hygiene and communication as a lump sum and depends on your household and canton of residence: around CHF 1'200 for single people, around CHF 1'700 for married couples, registered partnerships and families. Per child, depending on age, CHF 400 (up to 12 years) or CHF 600 (from 12 years) is added — some cantons such as St. Gallen or Schwyz use slightly different amounts.
On top of that, the bank deducts your personal fixed costs: rent or ownership costs including amortization, health insurance, taxes (withholding tax per the cantonal table), current loans and credit cards, leasing, meals away from home, commute, childcare and alimony.
A note for your own planning: the base amount is a lump sum. For a realistic budget of your own you should additionally factor in subscriptions, leisure, eating out and savings contributions — items that do not appear individually in the bank's calculation but very much shape your everyday life.
The 36-month rule and your maximum loan
Your maximum loan follows from the attachable portion. The KKG requires that a loan be affordable within 36 months on paper — even if the actual term runs longer. That is why most banks calculate as follows:
Maximum loan = (attachable portion × 36 months) − interest costs over 36 months
So your freely available income has to carry the monthly installment. An example in the opposite direction — you want a short term: if it is not enough for a desired term of, say, 24 months, you receive the loan over 36 months with a lower installment. You may repay faster at any time — the result stays the same, only the contractual installment remains affordable.
A calculation example
In concrete terms: with a countable net income of around CHF 8'400 (including the 13th monthly salary and allowances) and countable expenses of around CHF 7'300, around CHF 1'100 per month remains freely available.
Over 36 months and after deducting the interest costs, that corresponds to a maximum loan of around CHF 34'000. If the interest granted by the bank turns out lower, the possible amount is correspondingly higher. You can determine your exact figures fastest with the calculator above — or in the loan calculator.
The interest rate makes the difference
The interest rate decides how much of your installment goes toward repayment and how much toward interest. Through AS Finanz you receive offers with an annual percentage rate of 4.9 % to 9.95 % — depending on your credit standing and profile.
Tips for the right loan amount
Only borrow as much as you really need — even if your maximum loan is higher. Draw up your own budget in advance and choose an installment that fits even in expensive months, such as at year-end or in January. A longer term lowers the monthly installment but raises the total costs through more interest.
Because you may always pay in more, but never less, this interest risk can be kept small with good planning — for example through occasional extra payments.