Prime Rate – What is It?
Prime Rate or Prime Lending Rate is the overnight lending rate that banks charge other banks to lend money. It is based on the Federal Funds Rate. Prime is typically about 3% above the Fed Funds Rate. So if Bank A borrowers money from the Federal Reserve at 1% it will then lend to Bank B at 4%. The 4% rate charged to bank B is the Prime Rate.
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Prime Rate is a consensus measure of the Prime Lending Rate, and is published in the Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal surveys the large banks and then publishes their consensus “Prime”, or the rate offered to clients who are considered eligible for “prime” financing terms. The Prime Lending Rate will move up or down in lock step with changes made by the Federal Reserve Board to their Fed Funds Rate. The Prime Rate is an important index used by banks to set rates on many consumer loan products, such as credit cards, auto loans, and certain Adjustable Rate Mortgages. When the Prime is rising, variable interest rate loans and credit card rates will soon follow.
Prime Lending Rate Summary:
The Prime Rate is used to determine short terms rates by adding a Margin to determine the Fully Indexed Rate. For Example on a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) your interest rate is determined by Prime plus a fixed margin that was determined when you applied for the HELOC. So if Prime is 3.5% and your margin is 2.5% then your Fully Indexed Rate for your home equity line of credit would be 6%. The rate would adjust every time the Prime Rate changes.
The Prime Rate index is not readily available for use as a long-term mortgage index for consumer adjustable rate mortgage loans called ARMs, but is primarily used for Home Equity Lines of Credit loans (HELOC) and other second mortgage products.
If you would like to apply for a Delaware Home Loan, you can APPLY ONLINE HERE, you can call John R. Thomas at 302-703-0727.
John R. Thomas – NMLS 38783
Certified Mortgage Planner – Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.
302-703-0727 DE Office / 610-906-3109 PA Office / 410-412-3319 MD Office
248 E Chestnut Hill Rd, Newark, DE 19713
