Brexit Planning – Overview of IBKR Account Migration
Dear Client,
Interactive Brokers Group (“IBKR”) and its UK affiliate Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (“IBUK”) have been planning for the end of the Brexit transition period, currently scheduled for 31st December 2020, and have been preparing alternative arrangements for our European customers. Our priority is to ensure a seamless transition and continuation in the provision of brokerage services to our customers with minimal disruption and minimal changes.
What has happened so far
In 2018 IBKR established Interactive Brokers Luxembourg SARL (“IBLUX”) and undertook an authorisation process in Luxembourg. IBLUX was approved in November 2019, albeit with some important constraints on the permitted scale of the business.
In consideration of our fast-growing brokerage business, we expanded our European footprint and are in the process of creating two additional brokers based in the European Union: Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (“IBIE”) and Interactive Brokers Central Europe Befektetési ZRt (“IBCE”). This licensing process for IBIE with the Central Bank of Ireland is well underway and we expect to enter its final stages shortly. More recently, we commenced a licensing project in Hungary for IBCE.
What is changing
Over the next few weeks, IBKR will be seeking your permission to transfer your account from IBUK to one of the IBKR brokers based in the European Union. We will specify, in our next communication, whether your account is eligible for transfer to IBIE, IBLUX or IBCE (“EU Brokers”). Transfer to IBIE and IBCE is subject to a license being obtained from the relevant National Competent Authority.
What this means for you
You will be provided with the following options:
- Migration of all of your IBUK accounts and the applicable Customer Agreements to either IBLUX, IBIE or IBCE, as determined by IBKR; or
- Opportunity to decline the transfer.
There will be some important regulatory changes, which will be detailed in a Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQ”) document. A preliminary version of this document is available on our Knowledge Base. A final version, which will include a clear statement of the differences between your old account and new account capabilities, and a description of any services or protections that may be substantively different, will be provided when you receive your updated Customer Agreement.
If you do not consent to the transfer of your account to the indicated EU Broker or do nothing, your account may be restricted from opening new transactions or transferring new assets. You always have the ability to transfer your account to a broker of your choice outside the IBKR Group.
Our goal is to provide a service with minimum interruption during this account migration, and minimal changes to your IBKR experience.
Notification of transfer
We will communicate with you prior to the actual transfer of your account(s) and provide any information that might be applicable (although we do not expect anything of substantial nature being communicated with this notification).