Prime rate
The prime rate is the benchmark interest rate U.S. banks publish for their most creditworthy commercial customers. Many consumer rates are quoted as prime + a margin.
Full definition
The prime rate is the interest rate large U.S. banks publish for short-term loans to their most creditworthy commercial customers. It moves in step with the Federal Reserve's federal funds rate. Consumer credit products often quote rates as 'prime + X%', so when the Fed raises rates, prime rises and variable-rate consumer borrowing gets more expensive.
- Written by
- Get Advance Loan Editorial Team
- Reviewed by
- Compliance Review
- Published
- January 15, 2026
- Last reviewed
- May 22, 2026
- APR (Annual Percentage Rate)APR is the yearly cost of borrowing, expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. It includes interest plus most lender fees, so it's a more complete measure of cost than the interest rate alone.
- Interest rateThe interest rate is the percentage of the loan balance charged per year as interest, excluding fees. It is a component of, but smaller than, the APR.
- Fixed interest rateA fixed rate stays the same for the entire life of the loan, so the monthly payment never changes. Most U.S. personal loans are fixed-rate.
- Variable interest rateA variable rate can change over the life of the loan, usually tied to an index like the prime rate. Monthly payment can rise or fall.
- Loan termThe loan term is how long you have to repay the loan, usually expressed in months. Common personal-loan terms are 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 months.
- PrincipalPrincipal is the original loan amount you borrowed, before interest. Each monthly payment goes partly to principal and partly to interest.
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