U.S. prime rate
7.00% as of Nov 9, 2026
- unchanged from previous day 7.00% on Nov 6, 2026
- unchanged from a month earlier 7.00% on Oct 9, 2026
- unchanged from a year earlier 7.00% on Nov 7, 2025
What it measures
The bank prime loan rate is the rate most large U.S. banks post as their base for short-term business loans. It moves when the Federal Reserve changes its target for the federal funds rate.
Why it matters to a small business
Most variable-rate business loans and lines of credit are quoted as prime plus a margin, and SBA 7(a) loans cap their rate at prime plus a set spread. When prime moves, payments on those loans move with it.
SBA 7(a) maximum rates at today's prime rate
| Loan size | Maximum spread | Maximum rate today |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | Prime + 6.5% | 13.50% |
| $50,001 to $250,000 | Prime + 6.0% | 13.00% |
| $250,001 to $350,000 | Prime + 4.5% | 11.50% |
| Over $350,000 | Prime + 3.0% | 10.00% |
The SBA caps variable-rate 7(a) loans at a base rate plus a spread that depends on loan size (13 CFR 120.214). This table uses the bank prime loan rate of 7.00% as of Nov 9, 2026 as the base. These are ceilings, not quotes: lenders can and often do offer less.
Recent readings
| Date | Rate |
|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Nov 6, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Nov 5, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Nov 4, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Nov 3, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Nov 2, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Oct 30, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Oct 29, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Oct 28, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Oct 27, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Oct 26, 2026 | 7.00% |
| Oct 23, 2026 | 7.00% |
Source
Federal Reserve Board, series DPRIME, retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Published daily. Official figures can be revised after they are first released.