SCHUFA

SCHUFA is a credit rating agency that rates you with a credit score as an indication of your creditworthiness. Many banks will check your creditworthiness using your credit score at SCHUFA.

SCHUFA does not divulge its credit-scoring method. But you can be assured that they check whether you pay all your bills on time. Also, outstanding installment loan balances (personal loans, auto loans, student loans) are not a good thing, as are too many credit cards.

You may want to obtain (paid) access to the data SCHUFA maintains for you (through meineSCHUFA kompakt if you have time for them to mail it to you) so you can check for any errors.