Broker Application Instructions

Print this page as a checklist for opening an account.

  1. Complete the Broker Electronic Application
    You will be asked to establish a Username and Password at the beginning of the process so that all the information you enter will remain secure.
  2. Submit financial, disciplinary and identification documentation
    U.S. regulators require that IB receive and review certain financial, disciplinary and identification documents from its brokers before approving the account. These documents will be requested through the electronic application system or by your IB sales representative. All documents should be forwarded to the addresses listed under Contact Us/Document Submission Information on the IB website.
  3. Fund Your Account
    Send a check (with your deposit instruction form, or your account number written on the check) or wire (call or visit your bank to initiate) as specified in your deposit instructions to IB to cover trading in master account, fees and client account transfers. Electronic Funds Transfer (ACH), Broker-to-Broker Transfer (ACAT), and IB Internal Transfer will automatically transfer. If we do not receive your funds in 45 days from approval the account will be closed. We require $10,000 or the USD equivalent that will be applied towards your first five months of commissions.
  4. Application Review
    We will begin the review of your application once all application requirements have been completed and forwarded to IB. Your application is complete once there are no outstanding application tasks in the Login drop-down list under Finish Application. Sometimes after you have completed the application we require additional steps. You will be notified by email and within Login/Complete Application if this is the case.
  5. Application Review Results
    We will review your application and notify you of the result. If you will be introducing securities trades, IB is required to submit your application to the New York Stock Exchange for approval. This process generally takes 2-3 weeks.
  6. Trade
    If we have received your funds you may begin to trade in the master account. Funds received by 16:00 ET are available for trading the next business day under normal business circumstances. The latest status of your deposit or transfer may be found under Funds Status in Login/Account Management.
  7. Open Client Accounts
    Fully Disclosed
    You will be given a special web link for your customers to open accounts electronically. It is important that your clients use this link, and not the normal website IB registration system, in order to properly link the account. You may log into Account Management at any time to see the status of your clients' application. You can also create client account templates in Account Management to save and re-use application information for new client accounts.

Interactive Brokers ®, IB SM , InteractiveBrokers.com ®, Interactive Analytics ®, IB Options Analytics SM , IB SmartRouting SM , PortfolioAnalyst ®, IB Trader Workstation SM and One World, One Account SM are service marks and/or trademarks of Interactive Brokers LLC. Supporting documentation for any claims and statistical information will be provided upon request. Any trading symbols displayed are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to portray recommendations.

The risk of loss in online trading of stocks, options, futures, currencies, foreign equities, and fixed income can be substantial.

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. For more information read the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options, also known as the options disclosure document (ODD). Alternatively, please contact IB Customer Service to receive a copy of the ODD. Before trading, clients must read the relevant risk disclosure statements on our Warnings and Disclosures page. Trading on margin is only for experienced investors with high risk tolerance. You may lose more than your initial investment. For additional information about rates on margin loans, please see Margin Loan Rates. Security futures involve a high degree of risk and are not suitable for all investors. The amount you may lose may be greater than your initial investment. Before trading security futures, read the Security Futures Risk Disclosure Statement. Structured products and fixed income products such as bonds are complex products that are more risky and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, please read the Risk Warning and Disclosure Statement.

For information on the IBKR ATS, please visit the SEC site.

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