Prime Lending Rate History

Figures current at 27 September 2026. Source: TradeAnswers.

Prime alongside the repo rate
Effective fromRepoPrimeSpread
24 September 20267.25%10.75%3.50
29 May 20267.00%10.50%3.50
20 November 20256.75%10.25%3.50
31 July 20257.00%10.50%3.50
29 May 20257.25%10.75%3.50
30 January 20257.50%11.00%3.50
July 2020, cycle low3.50%7.00%3.50
May 2023, cycle high8.25%11.75%3.50
What prime prices
ProductTypical pricing
Home loanPrime, or prime less a margin for a strong applicant
Vehicle financePrime plus 1 to 3 percentage points
Personal loanPrime plus a wide margin, capped by the NCA
Credit cardCapped by the National Credit Act formula
Margin lendingSet by the broker, often referenced to prime
Prime at each turning point
DateRepoPrimeWhat it marked
September 20267.25%10.75%Current level
November 20256.75%10.25%Cycle low of the cutting phase
May 20238.25%11.75%Peak of the hiking cycle
July 20203.50%7.00%Record low
January 20166.75%10.25%Mid-cycle for comparison
Monthly instalment at prime over twenty years
LoanAt 10.25%At 10.75%At 11.75%
R750,000R7,370R7,620R8,130
R1,000,000R9,820R10,160R10,840
R1,500,000R14,730R15,240R16,260
R2,000,000R19,640R20,320R21,680
Prime lending rate at each year end, 2000 to 2026
YearPrimeRepoSpreadMonthly cost of R1m over 20 years
202610.75%7.25%3.50R10,160
202510.25%6.75%3.50R9,820
202411.25%7.75%3.50R10,500
202311.75%8.25%3.50R10,840
202210.50%7.00%3.50R9,980
20217.25%3.75%3.50R7,900
20207.00%3.50%3.50R7,750
201910.00%6.50%3.50R9,650
201810.25%6.75%3.50R9,820
201710.25%6.75%3.50R9,820
201610.50%7.00%3.50R9,980
20159.75%6.25%3.50R9,490
20149.25%5.75%3.50R9,170
20138.50%5.00%3.50R8,680
20128.50%5.00%3.50R8,680
20119.00%5.50%3.50R9,000
20109.00%5.50%3.50R9,000
200910.50%7.00%3.50R9,980
200815.50%12.00%3.50R13,540
200714.50%11.00%3.50R12,800
200612.50%9.00%3.50R11,360
200510.50%7.00%3.50R9,980
200411.00%7.50%3.50R10,320
200311.50%8.00%3.50R10,670
200217.00%13.50%3.50R14,690
200113.00%9.50%3.50R11,720
200014.50%12.00%3.50R12,800

Data maintained by TradeAnswers · updated as the figures change