Many people in Switzerland lose track of part of their occupational pension savings. With frequent job changes, career breaks, or moves abroad, it’s common for assets from the 2nd pillar to remain “asleep” in forgotten accounts. This is where the 2nd Pillar Central Office comes in — a national body linked to the LPP Guarantee Fund, responsible for helping individuals locate unclaimed LPP/BVG assets. Acting as a bridge between insured persons and pension institutions, it ensures that every franc contributed ultimately reaches its rightful owner.
What is the 2nd Pillar Central Office?
The 2nd Pillar Central Office, established in 1999 and managed by the LPP Guarantee Fund in Bern, is a public service that helps insured persons find forgotten occupational pension assets.
It acts as a national point of contact within Switzerland’s occupational pension (LPP/BVG) system, ensuring that anyone who has worked in Switzerland can trace and recover the pension funds they are entitled to.
Unlike a pension fund, the 2nd Pillar Central Office does not hold any assets and does not pay out benefits. It should not be confused with the Substitute Occupational Benefit Institution (LPP), which safeguards pension funds when an insured person has not designated a new pension provider.
How does the 2nd Pillar Central Office work?
To recover any forgotten pension assets, insured persons can submit an official request directly on the LPP Guarantee Fund’s website (sfbvg.ch). The 2nd Pillar Central Office then compares the personal data provided (name, date of birth, AHV number) with the information reported by pension funds.
If a match is found, both the individual and the relevant pension institution are informed. The service is free of charge, confidential, and available in multiple languages, ensuring easy access for all insured persons.
The 2nd Pillar Central Office does not hold individual accounts and does not manage any assets. It performs no financial transfers — its role is limited to providing information and connecting the insured person with the appropriate pension fund.
How does the 2nd Pillar Central Office differ from the LOB Guarantee Fund?
The LOB Guarantee Fund and the 2nd Pillar Central Office depend on the same foundation, based in Bern, Eigerplatz 2, but their missions are distinct.
The LOB Guarantee Fund is responsible for ensuring the stability of the Swiss occupational pension system. It intervenes in cases of a pension fund’s insolvency, thereby guaranteeing the payment of the minimum benefits required by law.
The 2nd Pillar Central Office, on the other hand, acts as a liaison service of the LPP Guarantee Fund. It focuses exclusively on individual searches for forgotten pension assets and does not manage any funds or benefits.
Its activities fall under the legal framework of Article 58a of the LPP, which governs the exchange of data between pension funds and the Central Compensation Office.
How can I contact the 2nd Pillar Central Office?
The 2nd Pillar Central Office can be contacted directly through the official website of the LPP Guarantee Fund. There, you will find an easy-to-use online request form to start searching for forgotten occupational pension assets.
Official contact details:
Centrale du 2ème pilier
Fonds de garantie LPP
Organe de direction
Case postale 1023
3000 Berne 14
email: info@zentralstelle.ch
telephone: +41 31 380 79 75 (No information on assets is given over the phone.
Before submitting your request, prepare your OASI number, a list of your former employers, and your employment periods in Switzerland. This information will allow the Central Office to carry out a quick and accurate search within the pension funds’ databases.
Best practices to avoid forgotten assets
Losing track of a pension account is more common than you might think. Here are a few simple reflexes to avoid forgotten 2nd pillar assets:
- Inform your pension fund each time you change job or professional situation.
- Store and centralize your statements LPP in a single file (paper or digital).
- In the event of a break in activity, transfer your assets to a vested benefits account rather than leaving them unattended.
- Last but not least, optimize your BVG/LPP purchases and your pension strategy with the help of a certified advisor, to close any gaps and maximize your tax benefits.
At Invexa, we support you in the search, transfer, and optimization of your LPP assets. We analyze your personal situation and help you recover, consolidate, and grow your pension capital to enhance your retirement plan or long-term projects.
Frequently asked questions
Your 2nd pillar assets are generally held in the pension fund of your current employer. If you changed jobs without transferring your funds, they may have been moved to a vested benefits account or to the Substitute Occupational Benefit Institution (LPP).
To locate your forgotten pension assets, fill out the official form on the 2nd Pillar Central Office website. The service compares your data with that of pension funds and informs you if there is a match. It is free and confidential.
In 2025, the minimum annual salary subject to the LPP is CHF 22,680. Below this threshold, affiliation to the 2nd pillar is not mandatory.
Anyone who has worked in Switzerland, even temporarily, can apply.
The time required depends on the number of institutions to be contacted. In general, the search takes between 4 and 8 weeks, depending on the complexity of the case and the responses of the pension funds concerned.
No, the search carried out by the 2nd Pillar Central Office is completely free of charge and confidential.
If you have changed jobs several times, worked part-time, or left Switzerland, it is possible that some of your capital has remained in a vested benefits account. Use the central service for the 2nd pillar to check.
