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Brian is the Co-Founder of MonitorBankRates.com. For over 18 years, he has utilized his background in enterprise infrastructure to engineer proprietary systems that track rates from over 8,000 financial institutions.

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| September 16, 2026 | 6 min read

HELOC Rates Rise to 6.779% on Fed Decision Day; Home Equity Loan Rates Ease

HELOC rates rose to 6.779% APR this week and home equity loan rates fell to 6.745%. The Federal Reserve announces its rate decision this afternoon; if it raises rates, borrowers with an open HELOC will most likely see an increase in their rate.

Average HELOC rates rose 0.030 points to 6.779% APR since our September 10 report, and average home equity loan rates fell 0.038 points to 6.745%. HELOC rates are quoted as the prime rate plus a percentage, and the prime rate has held at 6.75% since December. The Federal Reserve announces its rate decision this afternoon; these figures were collected before it.

HELOC rates rose and home equity loan rates eased

Home equity loan and HELOC rates, national average APR since early April

Average APRs from MonitorBankRates.com's nightly collection, the same series this report's figures come from, updated daily.

HELOC rates rose 0.030 points to 6.779% APR this week, after falling 0.062 points in the prior report. HELOC rates are quoted as the prime rate plus a percentage, and the prime rate has held at 6.75% since December. The rate on an open HELOC changes when the prime rate changes.

Home equity loan rates fell 0.038 points to 6.745%, slightly more than the 0.032 points they added a week ago, and the average remains inside the narrow range it has held all summer.

Choosing between a home equity loan and a HELOC

A home equity loan is borrowed as one lump sum at a fixed rate, with the same payment every month until it is paid off. A HELOC is drawn as needed, and its rate changes when the prime rate changes. Our guide to the differences between a home equity loan and a HELOC covers both in detail.

Change since September 10, by product (percentage points)

This report's averages, September 10 to September 16. Red bars rose; green bars fell.

Home equity rates this week: September 10 vs. September 16

The answer comes this afternoon

The Federal Reserve announces its rate decision this afternoon. Its benchmark has held at 3.50% to 3.75% since December, and the prime rate has held at 6.75% over the same stretch. When the Fed has raised its benchmark by a quarter point in the past, banks have typically raised the prime rate by a quarter point as well, usually within a day. If that happens today, borrowers with an open HELOC would most likely see an increase in their rate over the following billing cycle or two. If the Fed holds, the prime rate stays at 6.75%. Home equity loan rates are fixed.

Lenders will ask about insurance before they fund

Whatever today brings, one requirement won't change: a lender approving a HELOC or home equity loan wants proof of homeowners insurance on the property for as long as money is owed, so the premium belongs in the same monthly math as any rate on this page. Our MBR Home Insurance Burden Index ranks all 50 states by how heavily those premiums weigh on homeowners, and Texas homeowners can compare carriers in our Texas homeowners insurance guide. If the borrowed money is going into the house itself, get the updated insurance quote in the same sitting.

The bottom line while the Fed meets

Going into this afternoon's announcement, HELOCs average 6.779% and home equity loans 6.745%. Borrowers comparing local offers can line up Texas home equity loan rates against these national averages. These figures average more than a thousand lenders, individual quotes vary widely, and one more quote from your own bank or credit union is worth more than anything on this page.