{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wall-street-journal-prime-rate","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/wall-street-journal-prime-rate","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"wall-street-journal-prime-rate","term":"Wall Street Journal Prime Rate","aka":"WSJ Prime","group":"The loan itself","definition":"This is a widely published interest rate that banks use as a base for many variable-rate loans. For SBA 7(a) loans, it's often the benchmark to which a \"spread\" is added to calculate your interest rate.","what_it_means":"Many SBA 7(a) loans are variable-rate, meaning your interest payments will fluctuate with WSJ Prime. Understand how changes in this rate will impact your monthly debt service. Monitor its trends, as even small shifts can affect your cash flow.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wall-street-journal-prime-rate","official_sources":[{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"prime-rate","term":"Prime Rate","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/prime-rate"},{"slug":"variable-rate-loan","term":"Variable Rate Loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/variable-rate-loan"},{"slug":"spread","term":"Spread","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/spread"},{"slug":"sofr","term":"SOFR","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sofr"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What is the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate's role in SBA 7(a) loan interest rates?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-wall-street-journal-prime-rate-s-role-in-sba-7-a-loan-interest-rates"},{"question":"What alternative base rates are available for variable-rate 7(a) loans besides the Wall Street Journal Prime rate?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-alternative-base-rates-are-available-for-variable-rate-7-a-loans-besides-the-wall-str"},{"question":"What are the acceptable alternative base rate options for variable-rate 7(a) loans, besides the Wall Street Journal Prime rate?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-acceptable-alternative-base-rate-options-for-variable-rate-7-a-loans-besides-"},{"question":"What are the permissible alternative base rate options for variable-rate 7(a) loans besides the Wall Street Journal Prime?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-permissible-alternative-base-rate-options-for-variable-rate-7-a-loans-besides"},{"question":"When is the use of the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate as the base rate mandatory for a variable rate 7(a) loan, if ever?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-is-the-use-of-the-wall-street-journal-prime-rate-as-the-base-rate-mandatory-for-a-var"},{"question":"What is the 'Prime Rate' when talking about SBA 7(a) loan rates?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-prime-rate-when-talking-about-sba-7-a-loan-rates"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Wall Street Journal Prime Rate","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wall-street-journal-prime-rate","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}