{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wsj-prime-rate","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/wsj-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":"wsj-prime-rate","term":"WSJ Prime Rate","group":"The loan itself","definition":"The benchmark interest rate published daily by The Wall Street Journal, used by most lenders to set the variable interest rate for SBA 7(a) loans. It directly impacts your monthly payments.","what_it_means":"Your SBA 7(a) loan will likely have a variable interest rate, expressed as WSJ Prime Rate plus a \"spread.\" This means your interest payments will fluctuate as the Prime Rate changes. Understand the current Prime Rate and how the spread affects your initial payment.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wsj-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","term":"Variable rate","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/variable-rate"},{"slug":"spread","term":"Spread","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/spread"},{"slug":"interest-only-payment","term":"Interest-Only Payment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/interest-only-payment"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does a lender determine the maximum allowable interest rate for a variable-rate 7(a) loan tied to the WSJ Prime?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-determine-the-maximum-allowable-interest-rate-for-a-variable-rate-7-a-lo"},{"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"},{"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 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 are the current alternative base rate options for variable rate 7(a) loans, besides Prime Rate?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-current-alternative-base-rate-options-for-variable-rate-7-a-loans-besides-pri"},{"question":"What is the difference between Prime Rate and an SBA 7(a) loan rate?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-difference-between-prime-rate-and-an-sba-7-a-loan-rate"}]},"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 — WSJ Prime Rate","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wsj-prime-rate","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}