Summary

The Excel NOMINAL function returns the nominal interest rate when given an effective annual interest rate and the number of compounding periods per year. The effective rate is the actual rate due to compounding. The nominal rate is typically the stated rate.

Purpose 

Get annual nominal interest rate

Return value 

Nominal interest rate

Syntax

=NOMINAL(effect_rate,npery)
  • effect_rate - The effective annual interest rate.
  • npery - Number of compounding periods per year.

How to use 

The Excel NOMINAL function calculates the nominal interest rate when given an effective annual interest rate and the number of compounding periods per year. Nominal interest rate is typically the stated rate on a financial product. Effective annual interest rate is the interest rate actually earned due to compounding.  For example, with an effective rate of 6.14% and interest compounded quarterly, NOMINAL returns 6.00%:

=NOMINAL(0.0614,4) // returns 0.06

In the example shown, the formula in D6, copied down, is:

=NOMINAL(B6,C6)

Format the result as a percentage to display with % symbol.

Notes

  • Npery should be an integer (Excel will truncate if not).
  • The effect_rate should be a number between 0 and 1.
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Dave Bruns

Hi - I'm Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.