What is the prime rate today?
7.00%, the rate posted by most of the 25 largest U.S. banks (Federal Reserve H.15, week to November 4, 2026). It has been 7.00% since September 17, 2026.
Prime rate today: 7.00%
Bank prime loan rate, Federal Reserve, week to November 4, 2026 · unchanged since September 17, 2026
Prime rate7.00%a year ago 7.00%
Last change+0.25 ptsSeptember 17, 2026
Fed target range3.75–4.00%prime = top of the range + 3
Highest on record21.50%December 19, 1980
What a prime-based loan costs today
Your rate: prime 7.00% + 2
9.00%- Monthly payment
- $2,075.84
- Interest in the first year
- $8,327
- If prime rises 0.25 point
- $12.15 more a month
Every prime rate change since 2000
| Date | New prime rate | Change |
|---|---|---|
| September 17, 2026 | 7.00% | +0.25 |
| December 11, 2025 | 6.75% | −0.25 |
| October 30, 2025 | 7.00% | −0.25 |
| September 17, 2025 | 7.25% | −0.25 |
| December 19, 2024 | 7.50% | −0.25 |
| November 8, 2024 | 7.75% | −0.25 |
| September 19, 2024 | 8.00% | −0.50 |
| July 27, 2023 | 8.50% | +0.25 |
| May 4, 2023 | 8.25% | +0.25 |
| March 23, 2023 | 8.00% | +0.25 |
| February 2, 2023 | 7.75% | +0.25 |
| December 15, 2022 | 7.50% | +0.50 |
| November 3, 2022 | 7.00% | +0.75 |
| September 22, 2022 | 6.25% | +0.75 |
| July 28, 2022 | 5.50% | +0.75 |
| June 16, 2022 | 4.75% | +0.75 |
| May 5, 2022 | 4.00% | +0.50 |
| March 17, 2022 | 3.50% | +0.25 |
| March 16, 2020 | 3.25% | −1.00 |
| March 4, 2020 | 4.25% | −0.50 |
| October 31, 2019 | 4.75% | −0.25 |
| September 19, 2019 | 5.00% | −0.25 |
| August 1, 2019 | 5.25% | −0.25 |
| December 20, 2018 | 5.50% | +0.25 |
| September 27, 2018 | 5.25% | +0.25 |
| June 14, 2018 | 5.00% | +0.25 |
| March 22, 2018 | 4.75% | +0.25 |
| December 14, 2017 | 4.50% | +0.25 |
| June 15, 2017 | 4.25% | +0.25 |
| March 16, 2017 | 4.00% | +0.25 |
| December 15, 2016 | 3.75% | +0.25 |
| December 17, 2015 | 3.50% | +0.25 |
| December 16, 2008 | 3.25% | −0.75 |
| October 29, 2008 | 4.00% | −0.50 |
| October 8, 2008 | 4.50% | −0.50 |
| April 30, 2008 | 5.00% | −0.25 |
| March 18, 2008 | 5.25% | −0.75 |
| January 30, 2008 | 6.00% | −0.50 |
| January 22, 2008 | 6.50% | −0.75 |
| December 11, 2007 | 7.25% | −0.25 |
| October 31, 2007 | 7.50% | −0.25 |
| September 18, 2007 | 7.75% | −0.50 |
| June 29, 2006 | 8.25% | +0.25 |
| May 10, 2006 | 8.00% | +0.25 |
| March 28, 2006 | 7.75% | +0.25 |
| January 31, 2006 | 7.50% | +0.25 |
| December 13, 2005 | 7.25% | +0.25 |
| November 1, 2005 | 7.00% | +0.25 |
| September 20, 2005 | 6.75% | +0.25 |
| August 9, 2005 | 6.50% | +0.25 |
| June 30, 2005 | 6.25% | +0.25 |
| May 3, 2005 | 6.00% | +0.25 |
| March 22, 2005 | 5.75% | +0.25 |
| February 2, 2005 | 5.50% | +0.25 |
| December 14, 2004 | 5.25% | +0.25 |
| November 10, 2004 | 5.00% | +0.25 |
| September 21, 2004 | 4.75% | +0.25 |
| August 10, 2004 | 4.50% | +0.25 |
| June 30, 2004 | 4.25% | +0.25 |
| June 27, 2003 | 4.00% | −0.25 |
| November 7, 2002 | 4.25% | −0.50 |
| December 12, 2001 | 4.75% | −0.25 |
| November 7, 2001 | 5.00% | −0.50 |
| October 3, 2001 | 5.50% | −0.50 |
| September 18, 2001 | 6.00% | −0.50 |
| August 22, 2001 | 6.50% | −0.25 |
| June 28, 2001 | 6.75% | −0.25 |
| May 16, 2001 | 7.00% | −0.50 |
| April 19, 2001 | 7.50% | −0.50 |
| March 21, 2001 | 8.00% | −0.50 |
| February 1, 2001 | 8.50% | −0.50 |
| January 4, 2001 | 9.00% | −0.50 |
| May 17, 2000 | 9.50% | +0.50 |
| March 22, 2000 | 9.00% | +0.25 |
| February 3, 2000 | 8.75% | +0.25 |
Prime rate by year
| Year | Average prime rate |
|---|---|
| 2026 so far | 6.79% |
| 2025 | 7.37% |
| 2024 | 8.31% |
| 2023 | 8.19% |
| 2022 | 4.85% |
| 2021 | 3.25% |
| 2020 | 3.54% |
| 2019 | 5.28% |
| 2018 | 4.90% |
| 2017 | 4.10% |
| 2016 | 3.51% |
| 2015 | 3.26% |
| 2014 | 3.25% |
| 2013 | 3.25% |
| 2012 | 3.25% |
| 2011 | 3.25% |
| 2010 | 3.25% |
| 2009 | 3.25% |
| 2008 | 5.09% |
| 2007 | 8.05% |
| 2006 | 7.96% |
| 2005 | 6.19% |
| 2004 | 4.34% |
| 2003 | 4.12% |
| 2002 | 4.67% |
| 2001 | 6.92% |
| 2000 | 9.23% |
| 1999 | 7.99% |
| 1998 | 8.35% |
| 1997 | 8.44% |
| 1996 | 8.27% |
| 1995 | 8.83% |
| 1994 | 7.14% |
| 1993 | 6.00% |
| 1992 | 6.25% |
| 1991 | 8.46% |
| 1990 | 10.01% |
| 1989 | 10.87% |
| 1988 | 9.31% |
| 1987 | 8.20% |
| 1986 | 8.33% |
| 1985 | 9.93% |
| 1984 | 12.04% |
| 1983 | 10.79% |
| 1982 | 14.86% |
| 1981 | 18.87% |
| 1980 | 15.27% |
| 1979 | 12.67% |
| 1978 | 9.06% |
| 1977 | 6.82% |
| 1976 | 6.84% |
| 1975 | 7.86% |
| 1974 | 10.80% |
| 1973 | 8.02% |
| 1972 | 5.25% |
| 1971 | 5.72% |
| 1970 | 7.91% |
| 1969 | 7.95% |
| 1968 | 6.31% |
| 1967 | 5.63% |
| 1966 | 5.63% |
| 1965 | 4.54% |
| 1964 | 4.50% |
| 1963 | 4.50% |
| 1962 | 4.50% |
| 1961 | 4.50% |
| 1960 | 4.82% |
| 1959 | 4.48% |
| 1958 | 3.83% |
| 1957 | 4.20% |
| 1956 | 3.77% |
| 1955 | 3.16% |
| 1954 | 3.05% |
| 1953 | 3.17% |
| 1952 | 3.00% |
| 1951 | 2.56% |
| 1950 | 2.07% |
| 1949 | 2.00% |
Source: Federal Reserve, H.15 Selected Interest Rates, data through November 4, 2026.
Cite or link to this page
Citation
insytesBI. (2026). Prime rate today: 7.00%. Data: Federal Reserve, H.15 Selected Interest Rates, November 4, 2026. https://www.insytesbi.com/economy/prime-rate/Link
<a href="https://www.insytesbi.com/economy/prime-rate/">Prime rate today: 7.00%</a>Frequently asked questions
How is the prime rate set?
Each bank sets its own, but nearly all follow one convention: 3 points above the top of the Federal Reserve’s federal funds target range. The Fed’s range is 3.75% to 4.00%, so prime is 7.00%. Prime moves on the day after each Fed rate change.
When did the prime rate last change?
On September 17, 2026, from 6.75% to 7.00%, the day after the Federal Reserve raised its target range.
What was the highest prime rate ever?
21.50%, reached on December 19, 1980. Since the end of 2008 it has been as low as 3.25%.
What loans use the prime rate?
Business lines of credit, many SBA loans, home equity lines of credit and most credit cards are priced at prime plus a margin, so their rates move the day prime does.