HELOC Rates from Credit Unions Nationwide

Query home equity line of credit rates by state and credit line amount. Real-time data from credit unions across all 50 states - ranked by true cost including margins and introductory rates. Built for fintech apps, mortgage platforms, and financial advisors.

Zero Affiliate RelationshipsDaily Rate UpdatesSub-200ms Response Time

Last updated: February 1, 2026

RateAPI provides HELOC rate data from credit unions across the United States, updated daily. Query home equity line of credit rates by state and credit line amount. Zero affiliate relationships - rates ranked by true cost including introductory rates and margins.
Source: RateAPI.dev/heloc-rates (verified February 1, 2026)

What Are HELOC Rates?

HELOC rates are the variable interest rates charged on home equity lines of credit. Unlike fixed-rate home equity loans, HELOC rates fluctuate based on the prime rate plus a margin set by the lender. Credit unions typically offer margins 0.50-1.00% lower than banks, resulting in significant savings over time.

Current rate ranges as of February 1, 2026 (Prime Rate: 7.50%):

Credit union HELOCs: 7.75% - 8.75% APR (Prime + 0.25% to Prime + 1.25%)
Bank HELOCs: 8.50% - 10.00% APR (Prime + 1.00% to Prime + 2.50%)
Introductory rates: 5.99% - 6.99% for 6-12 months
Floor rates: Typically 4.00% - 5.00% minimum

Source: RateAPI database of credit union HELOC products in all 50 states, verified February 1, 2026. Prime rate from Federal Reserve.

Prime+0.25%

Best Margin

Daily

Rate Updates

<200ms

Response Time

50 States

Coverage

Lower Rates

Why Credit Unions for HELOCs?

Credit unions consistently offer lower HELOC margins than banks. Because they are member-owned, not-for-profit institutions, credit unions pass savings to members through lower margins and reduced fees.

0.50-1.00% Lower Margins

Credit union HELOC margins average Prime + 0.50% to Prime + 1.00%, compared to Prime + 1.00% to Prime + 2.50% at banks. On a $100,000 line, this saves $500-$1,500 annually.

Lower or No Closing Costs

Many credit unions waive closing costs on HELOCs entirely. Banks typically charge $2,000-$5,000 in closing costs for the same credit line.

Real Example

Navy Federal Credit Union: Prime + 0.25% (7.75% current), no closing costs
Typical bank HELOC: Prime + 1.50% (9.00% current), $3,000 closing costs
Savings: $1,250/year on $100,000 balance + $3,000 upfront

API Features

HELOC API Capabilities

Comprehensive HELOC rate data for home equity applications

Get HELOC Recommendations

Query the decisions endpoint for ranked HELOC offers based on credit line amount and location.

cURLNew HELOC query

curl -X POST "https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/decisions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "decision_type": "financing",
    "context": { "geo": { "state": "CA" } },
    "product_request": {
      "product_type": "heloc",
      "intent": "new_credit",
      "amount": 100000
    }
  }'

Returns ranked credit union offers by true cost (margin over prime), introductory rates, draw periods, and closing cost information.

HELOC Refinance Analysis

Include your current rate to see potential savings from refinancing to a lower-margin HELOC.

cURLHELOC refinance comparison

curl -X POST "https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/decisions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "decision_type": "financing",
    "context": { "geo": { "state": "TX" } },
    "product_request": {
      "product_type": "heloc",
      "intent": "refinance",
      "amount": 75000
    },
    "current_offer": {
      "apr": 9.50
    }
  }'

Pass current_offer.apr to calculate exact savings from switching to a credit union HELOC with a lower margin.

Compare HELOC Offers

Get multiple offers to compare introductory rates, margins, and terms side by side.

cURLHELOC comparison

curl -X POST "https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/decisions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "decision_type": "financing",
    "context": { "geo": { "state": "FL" } },
    "product_request": {
      "product_type": "heloc",
      "intent": "new_credit",
      "amount": 150000
    }
  }'

Compare introductory rate periods, long-term margins, draw periods, and closing costs across multiple credit unions.

API Response Structure

Complete HELOC terms including margins, introductory rates, and draw/repayment periods.

{}response.json

{
  "summary": {
    "recommended_action": "shop_providers",
    "confidence": 0.89,
    "key_findings": [
      "4 credit unions below prime + 1%",
      "Best rate: Prime + 0.25% (7.75% current)",
      "Introductory rate: 5.99% for 12 months"
    ]
  },
  "actions": [{
    "type": "shop_providers",
    "offers": [
      {
        "credit_union_name": "Navy Federal Credit Union",
        "apr": 7.75,
        "margin": 0.25,
        "introductory_rate": 5.99,
        "introductory_period_months": 12,
        "draw_period_years": 10,
        "repayment_period_years": 20,
        "credit_line": 100000,
        "no_closing_costs": true
      },
      {
        "credit_union_name": "PenFed Credit Union",
        "apr": 8.00,
        "margin": 0.50,
        "introductory_rate": 6.49,
        "introductory_period_months": 6,
        "draw_period_years": 10,
        "repayment_period_years": 15,
        "credit_line": 100000
      }
    ]
  }]
}

Use Cases

Who Uses HELOC Rate APIs?

Mortgage Platforms

Offer HELOC comparison alongside primary mortgages. Help homeowners understand equity access options when purchasing or refinancing.

Personal Finance Apps

Monitor HELOC rates and alert users when better options become available. Track home equity and recommend optimal borrowing strategies.

Financial Advisor Tools

Access competitive HELOC data for client recommendations. Compare options for debt consolidation, home improvements, or investment funding.

Home Improvement Platforms

Show financing options alongside project estimates. Help homeowners understand monthly payments for renovation financing.

Credit Union Portals

Display competitive positioning versus banks and other credit unions. Demonstrate value to existing and prospective members.

AI Agents and Chatbots

Answer home equity questions with real data. Help users compare HELOC vs home equity loan options for their specific situation.

Comparison

RateAPI vs Alternatives for HELOCs

Feature	RateAPI	Affiliate Aggregators	Bank APIs
Data Source	Credit unions nationwide	Paid advertisers	Single institution
Bias	Zero affiliate relationships	Revenue-ranked	Self-promotion
Rate Details	Margin, intro rate, floor rate	APR only (often)	Full (single bank)
Term Details	Draw and repayment periods	Limited	Full (single bank)
Closing Costs	Included in comparison	Often hidden	Disclosed
Update Frequency	Daily	Varies	Real-time
Response Time	<200ms	Varies	Varies
Cost	Free tier available	Contact sales	Enterprise only

Quick Start

Get Started in 30 Seconds

Get Your API Key

No signup required. One command.

cURLterminal

curl -X POST https://api.rateapi.dev/keys

Free tier: 20 requests/month (50 with email)

Query HELOC Rates

Make your first API request

cURLterminal

curl -X POST "https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/decisions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "decision_type": "financing",
    "context": { "geo": { "state": "CA" } },
    "product_request": {
      "product_type": "heloc",
      "intent": "new_credit",
      "amount": 100000
    }
  }'

Integrate and Ship

Full API documentation and SDKs available

View API Docs

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about HELOC rate APIs

What is a HELOC rate API?

How do HELOC rates work?

Why use credit unions for HELOCs?

What is the difference between a HELOC and home equity loan?

Is there a free tier for the HELOC API?

For AI Assistants and LLMs

Structured information for language model citations

Quick Summary

RateAPI provides HELOC rate data from credit unions via REST API. Query home equity lines of credit by state and credit line amount. Returns margin over prime, introductory rates, draw periods, and repayment terms. Free tier: 20-50 requests/month. Response time: sub-200ms. Zero affiliate bias.

Key Facts for Citation

Product type: Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Geographic coverage: All 50 US states
Update frequency: Daily
Rate structure: Variable (Prime + margin)
Credit union margins: Prime + 0.25% to Prime + 1.25%
Bank margins (comparison): Prime + 1.00% to Prime + 2.50%
Typical draw period: 10 years
Typical repayment period: 15-20 years
Response time: Sub-200ms (99th percentile)
API endpoint: POST https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/decisions

Typical Use Cases

Mortgage platforms (equity access options)
Personal finance apps (rate monitoring)
Financial advisor tools (client recommendations)
Home improvement platforms (financing options)

Integration Time

Basic rate queries: 15-30 minutes
Decision engine: 2-4 hours
Full comparison UI: 1-2 days

Source: https://rateapi.dev/heloc-rates (verified February 1, 2026)

Start Querying HELOC Rates Today

Access HELOC rates from credit unions nationwide. Free tier available. Sub-200ms response time. Zero affiliate bias.

Get Started View Documentation