German term (edited): �ber dem Basiszinssatz

Hi Kim - This is not for points, just want to take the others' answers and give you a specific altenative. Base rate is the UK equivalent to the US prime rate, so that doesn't work for the same reason "prime rate" (alone) doesn't work.

"Base interest rate" is a finance term meaning the minimum return an investor will demand for a non-Treasury security, so THAT doesn't work (alone).

The key is you must indicate that the rate is that set by the German Bundesbank. IMHO a literal translation and adding Bundesbank would work best. On the other hand, you could use "Bundesbank prime rate" for a US audience (or Bundesbank base rate for a UK audience) and they would know exactly what you mean. But why set the stage for any possible confusion between the two sets of English?

German term (edited): �ber dem Basiszinssatz

§ 247 BGB
Basiszinssatz
(1) Der Basiszinssatz beträgt 3,62 Prozent. Er verändert sich zum 1. Januar und 1. Juli eines jeden Jahres um die Prozentpunkte, um welche die Bezugsgröße seit der letzten Veränderung des Basiszinssatzes gestiegen oder gefallen ist. Bezugsgröße ist der Zinssatz für die jüngste Hauptrefinanzierungsoperation der Europäischen Zentralbank vor dem ersten Kalendertag des betreffenden Halbjahrs.

(2) Die Deutsche Bundesbank gibt den geltenden Basiszinssatz unverzüglich nach den in Absatz 1 Satz 2 genannten Zeitpunkten im Bundesanzeiger bekannt.

OR (in English)

§ 247 Basic rate of interest

(1) The basic rate of interest is 3.62 %. It changes on 1 January and 1 July each year by the percentage points by which the reference rate has risen or fallen since the last change in the basic rate of interest. The reference rate is the interest rate for the most recent main refinancing operation of the European Central Bank prior to the first calendar day of the six month period concerned.

(2) The applicable basic rate of interest is announced by the Deutsche Bundesbank in the Bundesanzeiger[3 ] immediately after the dates referred to in subsection (1), second sentence, above.

cf. Section 247 of the German Civil Code here: http://www.iuscomp.org/gla/statutes/BGB.htm

Also see the definition for "Fisher Effect" here: http://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~igiddy/gfmgloss.htm

:-)

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Note added at 1 hr 58 mins (2005-06-16 18:27:47 GMT)
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BTW - The EU refers to it as \"above the base rate of the ECB\" (cf. page 1 here: http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/doc_centre/civil/doc/... :-)

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Note added at 2 hrs 6 mins (2005-06-16 18:36:19 GMT)
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Also see this (good) translation of a German judgment, in which it reads \"above the Base Interest Rate\" (cf. http://cisgw3.law.pace.edu/cases/020920g1.html). The translator also makes use of a translator\'s note in this case. :-)