Prime Rate

Except for mortgage rates, the Prime Rate is the interest rate that banks use to calculate other types of loans and lines of credit. Each bank determines its own Prime Rate. However, most banks will use the U.S. Prime Rate for consumer goods as reported in The Wall Street Journal's "Money Rates" section, which is the rate indicated above. The prime rate in the United States is not usually the lowest, best, or most preferred interest rate. Banks utilize several techniques to establish the appropriate Prime Rate for each product and when modifications will be made.