LIBOR stands for "London Inter-Bank Offered Rate."  It is based on rates that contributor banks in London offer each other for inter-bank deposits.  From a bank's perspective, deposits are simply funds that are loaned to them.  So in effect, a LIBOR is a rate at which a fellow London bank can borrow money from other banks.  Rate calculations are complex as they incorporate variables such as time, maturity and currency rates. There are hundreds of LIBOR rates reported each month in numerous currencies.