Payment Arrears: Current Base and Default Interest Rates
Announcement of the Base Interest Rate effective July 1, 2026: Adjustment to 1.52%
In accordance with the legal provisions of § 247 para. 1 BGB, the Deutsche Bundesbank calculates the base interest rate and publishes its current status in the Federal Gazette as per § 247 para. 2 BGB.
The base interest rate of the German Civil Code primarily serves as the basis for calculating default interest, pursuant to § 288 paragraph 1 sentence 2 BGB. It changes on January 1 and July 1 of each year by the percentage points by which its reference rate has risen or fallen since the last change to the base interest rate. 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 respective half-year.
The fixed interest rate for the European Central Bank's most recent main refinancing operation on June 30, 2026, stands at 2.40%, marking an increase of 0.25 percentage points since January 1, 2026, the relevant date for the last adjustment of the base interest rate (the fixed interest rate for the last main refinancing operation in December 2025 was 2.15%).
Consequently, effective July 1, 2026, the base interest rate under the German Civil Code is calculated at 1.52% (previously 1.27%).
Source: Deutsche Bundesbank
| Period | Base Interest Rate | Default Interest Rate | Default Interest Rate for Business-to-Business Transactions |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1 to December 31, 2022 | -0,88 % | 4,12 % | 8,12 % |
| January 1 to June 30, 2023 | 1,62 % | 6,62 % | 10,62 % |
| July 1 to December 31, 2023 | 3,12 % | 8,12 % | 12,12 % |
| January 1 to June 30, 2024 | 3,62 % | 8,62 % | 12,62 % |
| July 1 to December 31, 2024 | 3,37 % | 8,37 % | 12,37 % |
| January 1 to June 30, 2025 | 2,27 % | 7,27 % | 11,27 % |
| July 1 to December 31, 2025 | 1,27 % | 6,27 % | 10,27 % |
| January 1 to June 30, 2026 | 1,27 % | 6,27 % | 10,27 % |
| July 1 to December 31, 2026 | 1,52 % | 6,52 % | 10,52 % |