South Africa Interbank Rate
Short-term (usually 3-month) interbank interest rate, monthly average.
Interbank Rate in South Africa increased to 6.85 percent in Sep 2026 from 6.83 percent in Aug 2026.
South Africa Interbank Rate — History
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South Africa Interbank Rate — analysis in simple words
Latest reading
Interbank Rate in South Africa increased to 6.85 percent in Sep 2026 from 6.83 percent in Aug 2026.
Over the last three months it rose once and fell twice.
Recent trend
A year earlier (Sep 2025) it was 6.91%, so the latest figure is 0.06 percentage points lower.
Over the past five years the average was 6.91%, with a range from 2.98% to 8.57%. The latest value is below that five-year average.
Historical context
This data series starts in Dec 1980 and has 550 monthly observations. The latest reading is higher than 23% of all of them.
The highest value on record is 21.90% (Feb 1985) and the lowest is 2.98% (Feb 2022). The long-run average is 10.13%.
Compared with other countries
Among 44 economies with recent data, South Africa ranks 3rd from the top. The median across all these economies is 2.64%, so South Africa is above the typical country.
Among 16 major economies tracked on this site it ranks 1st.
Statistics
- Latest
- 6.85%Sep 2026
- Previous
- 6.83%
- 5-year average
- 6.91%
- Long-run average
- 10.13%since Dec 1980
- All-time high
- 21.90%Feb 1985
- All-time low
- 2.98%Feb 2022
- Observations
- 550Monthly
Recent Data
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 6.85% | ▲ +0.02 pp |
| Aug 2026 | 6.83% | ▼ −0.16 pp |
| Jul 2026 | 6.99% | ▼ −0.12 pp |
| Jun 2026 | 7.11% | ▲ +0.20 pp |
| May 2026 | 6.91% | ▲ +0.10 pp |
| Apr 2026 | 6.81% | ▲ +0.12 pp |
| Mar 2026 | 6.69% | ▲ +0.08 pp |
| Feb 2026 | 6.61% | ▼ −0.14 pp |
| Jan 2026 | 6.75% | ▲ +0.09 pp |
| Dec 2025 | 6.66% | ▼ −0.11 pp |
| Nov 2025 | 6.77% | ▼ −0.12 pp |
| Oct 2025 | 6.89% | ▼ −0.02 pp |
| Sep 2025 | 6.91% | ▼ −0.06 pp |
| Aug 2025 | 6.97% | ▼ −0.23 pp |
| Jul 2025 | 7.20% | ▼ −0.10 pp |
| Jun 2025 | 7.30% | ▼ −0.05 pp |
| May 2025 | 7.35% | ▼ −0.07 pp |
| Apr 2025 | 7.42% | ▲ +0.06 pp |
| Mar 2025 | 7.36% | ▼ −0.06 pp |
| Feb 2025 | 7.42% | ▼ −0.33 pp |
| Jan 2025 | 7.75% | ▼ −0.05 pp |
| Dec 2024 | 7.80% | ▼ −0.12 pp |
| Nov 2024 | 7.92% | ▼ −0.08 pp |
| Oct 2024 | 8.00% | ▼ −0.10 pp |
| Sep 2024 | 8.10% | ▼ −0.13 pp |
| Aug 2024 | 8.23% | ▼ −0.22 pp |
| Jul 2024 | 8.45% | ▼ −0.08 pp |
| Jun 2024 | 8.53% | ■ 0.00 pp |
| May 2024 | 8.53% | ▲ +0.10 pp |
| Apr 2024 | 8.43% |
Interbank Rate — South Africa vs Peers
Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). South Africa highlighted.
More South Africa indicators
Understanding Interbank Rate — a simple guide
What it measures
The interest rate at which banks lend to each other for short periods, usually three months.
How it is calculated
The average rate during the month for three-month lending between banks (for example LIBOR successors, MIBOR-type rates).
If the policy rate is 6.5% and banks lend to each other at 6.7%, the spread is 0.2 percentage points.
A higher rate means tighter money-market conditions.
A lower rate means cheaper short-term funding for banks.
Why it matters for the economy and markets
Interbank rates show how central bank policy actually passes through to money markets, and they are used as a base for many loans.
How to read it
It normally stays close to the policy rate. A sudden widening of the gap can be a sign of stress in the banking system.
What to look at alongside it
The policy rate and bank lending rates.
Key terms
- Money market
- The market for short-term borrowing and lending.
Data source
OECD — Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (series OECD 3-month interbank rate), monthly data from Dec 1980 to Sep 2026. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.
How to use the chart
Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current interbank rate of South Africa?
What is the highest and lowest interbank rate of South Africa?
What does interbank rate measure?
Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.