rateapi-skill/v1 · quickstart

Install & run a skill in minutes

Three ways to use the rateAPI skills library: install a skill in Claude Code, add the rateAPI MCP server, or run a framework-agnostic curl/SDK recipe against the REST API. Everything uses your existing rateAPI API key — no new auth.

← Skills GalleryCapability Catalog →

Step 1

Get an API key

Every recipe below authenticates with the same rateAPI key via the x-api-key header. Generate one instantly — no account, no card. Or grab your existing key from the dashboard and swap it in for rk_your_key_here.

Generate a free key
curl -X POST https://api.rateapi.dev/keys -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"email":"[email protected]","source":"curl-quickstart"}'

Step 2

Install in Claude Code (MCP server)

Adding the rateAPI MCP server wires every skill into Claude Code at once. Each skill is a recipe over the MCP tools this command exposes — once it's connected, ask Claude to run any flow in plain language.

Add the rateAPI MCP server
claude mcp add rateapi https://mcp.rateapi.dev/mcp --transport http --header "x-api-key: rk_your_key_here"

Prefer to scope a single skill? Each gallery card ships a SKILL.md + recipe.json in the rateapi-skill/v1 format that documents the exact tools and routes the flow needs. Drop the skill folder into your agent's skills directory, then connect the MCP server with the command above.

Step 3

Or call the REST API from anything

No MCP client required. Every flow has a REST route under https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/... that you can hit with curl, fetch, or any SDK. Same key, same x-api-key header.

Smoke test: rank live offers (JavaScript fetch)
const res = await fetch("https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/decisions", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "x-api-key": "rk_your_key_here",
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    decision_type: "financing",
    context: { request_id: "req_001", geo: { state: "CA" } },
    product_request: {
      product_type: "mortgage",
      intent: "purchase",
      amount: 400000,
      term_months: 360,
    },
  }),
});
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);
Python (requests)
import requests

res = requests.post(
    "https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/decisions",
    headers={"x-api-key": "rk_your_key_here"},
    json={
        "decision_type": "financing",
        "context": {"request_id": "req_001", "geo": {"state": "CA"}},
        "product_request": {
            "product_type": "mortgage",
            "intent": "purchase",
            "amount": 400000,
            "term_months": 360,
        },
    },
)
print(res.json())

Per-flow quickstart

One copy-paste block per flow

Each core flow maps to live MCP tools and REST routes pulled from the capability catalog. Pick a flow, copy the curl recipe, swap in your key.

institution/discoveryFree

Find and evaluate nearby credit unions

For: consumer

Find credit unions near a ZIP, inspect their current rates and source-labelled NCUA profiles, then evaluate published membership paths before recommending one.

MCP tools
list_credit_unionsfind_credit_unions_near_zipfind_product_rates_near_zipget_credit_unioncheck_membership_eligibilityget_financing_decision
REST routes
GET /credit-unionsGET /credit-unions/nearby?zip={zip}GET /v1/rates/nearby?zip={zip}&product_type={product}GET /credit-unions/{state}/{slug}POST /v1/eligibility/checkPOST /v1/decisions
In Claude Code: ask it to call list_credit_unions
Use rateapi to find credit unions near a ZIP, inspect their current rates and source-labelled NCUA profiles, then evaluate published membership paths before recommending one.
Run it (curl)
curl "https://api.rateapi.dev/credit-unions/nearby?zip=95814" -H "x-api-key: rk_your_key_here"
shopping/comparisonFree

Rate shopping & comparison

For: consumer

Rank live credit-union mortgage offers for a borrower and explain why each ranked where it did.

MCP tools
compare_productsexplain_ranking
REST routes
POST /v1/decisionsPOST /v1/explain-ranking
In Claude Code: ask it to call compare_products
Use rateapi to rank live credit-union mortgage offers for a borrower and explain why each ranked where it did.
Run it (curl)
curl -X POST https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/decisions -H "x-api-key: rk_your_key_here" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"decision_type":"financing","context":{"request_id":"req_001","geo":{"state":"CA"}},"product_request":{"product_type":"mortgage","intent":"purchase","amount":400000,"term_months":360}}'
affordabilityFree

Home affordability estimate

For: consumer

Compute max monthly payment, max loan amount, and max home price from income, debts, and DTI caps.

MCP tools
estimate_affordabilitymax_loan
REST routes
POST /v1/affordability
In Claude Code: ask it to call estimate_affordability
Use rateapi to compute max monthly payment, max loan amount, and max home price from income, debts, and DTI caps.
Run it (curl)
curl -X POST https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/affordability -H "x-api-key: rk_your_key_here" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"income_annual":120000,"monthly_debts":600,"down_payment":60000}'
refinanceFree

Refinance break-even

For: consumer

Given a current loan and refinance costs, compute break-even months and lifetime savings against live rates.

MCP tools
refinance_break_even
REST routes
POST /v1/refinance-break-even
In Claude Code: ask it to call refinance_break_even
Use rateapi to given a current loan and refinance costs, compute break-even months and lifetime savings against live rates.
Run it (curl)
curl -X POST https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/refinance-break-even -H "x-api-key: rk_your_key_here" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"state":"TX","product_type":"mortgage","balance":350000,"term_months":360,"current_rate":7.25}'
monitoring/alertsFree

Rate monitoring & alerts

For: developer

Watch rates for a market segment and fire webhooks/alerts on material changes, or subscribe consumers to email alerts.

MCP tools
create_monitorsubscribe_rate_alert
REST routes
POST /v1/monitorsPOST /v1/alerts
In Claude Code: ask it to call create_monitor
Use rateapi to watch rates for a market segment and fire webhooks/alerts on material changes, or subscribe consumers to email alerts.
Run it (curl)
curl -X POST https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/monitors -H "x-api-key: rk_your_key_here" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"name":"CA 30yr watch","decision_context":{"state":"CA","product_type":"mortgage","intent":"purchase","amount":400000},"webhook_url":"https://example.com/hook"}'
deposit/ALMFree

Deposit beta (ALM)

For: treasury/ALM

Estimate deposit betas and benchmark deposit rates for treasury/ALM teams — how deposit pricing tracks the policy rate.

MCP tools
get_deposit_betaget_deposit_benchmarks
REST routes
POST /v1/deposit-betaPOST /v1/deposit-rates
In Claude Code: ask it to call get_deposit_beta
Use rateapi to estimate deposit betas and benchmark deposit rates for treasury/ALM teams — how deposit pricing tracks the policy rate.
Run it (curl)
curl -X POST https://api.rateapi.dev/v1/deposit-beta -H "x-api-key: rk_your_key_here" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"product":"money_market"}'

Browse the full library

See every skill, search by flow, tool, or route, and grab each skill's SKILL.md in the Skills Gallery.

Skills GalleryMCP Server