What is the maximum interest rate on an SBA Express loan?
Short answer
It depends on loan size. Loans above $350,000 cap at Prime plus 3.0 percentage points. Loans of $50,000 or less cap at Prime plus 6.5 percentage points. SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 2, Para. B.5 and 13 CFR 120.214 set the limits.
The maximum SBA Express rate depends on loan size. Under SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 2, Para. B.5, a variable rate cannot exceed these ceilings:
- Loans of $50,000 or less: Prime plus 6.5 percentage points.
- Loans of $50,001 to $250,000: Prime plus 6.0 percentage points.
- Loans of $250,001 to $350,000: Prime plus 4.5 percentage points.
- Loans of $350,001 to $500,000: Prime plus 3.0 percentage points.
With Prime at 7.00% as of Nov 10, 2026, those ceilings are 13.50%, 13.00%, 11.50% and 10.00%.
Base rate flexibility
Appendix 18, Para. B.3 covers variable-rate SBA Express loans. Here, the lender may use the same base rate it uses on similar non-SBA loans, but the rate may not exceed the SBA maximum. The lender can also use its usual change intervals and payment accruals.
Fixed rates
Appendix 18, Para. A.1 sets the fixed-rate ceiling. It is the Prime rate on the first business day of the month plus an allowable spread that SBA publishes. It may be used only if the rate stays fixed for the entire term.
Negotiation
You and the lender negotiate the rate, up to SBA's maximum (sba.gov/sba-lenders, read November 8, 2026). Actual rates vary by lender.
SBA Express also allows a default interest rate in some cases (Appendix 18, Para. B.3).
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