Interactive Brokers referral bonus: earn up to $1,000 of IBKR stock!

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) referral bonus promotion terms

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How does the Interactive Brokers (IBKR) referral program work?

Here’s a complete step-by-step guide explaining everything you need to know about how to qualify and earn up to $1,000 worth of Interactive Brokers (IBKR) stock:

1. Use the link: sign up using this referral link and set up your individual or joint Interactive Brokers account.
2. Deposit funds: you’ll then need to deposit funds to start using the brokerage platform. The amount of free bonus IBKR stock you qualify for will depend on how much you put into your Interactive Brokers account.
3. Get your free stock: for every $300 (or its equivalent in another currency) in net deposits of cash or assets during the first year after your first deposit, you get $1 worth of free IBKR stock, up to a maximum of $1,000. Withdrawals during that first year reduce your award, as IBKR removes $1 of shares for every $300 you take out. Each share award can only be sold or transferred one year after the date it was credited.
4. Refer a friend: once you have your account set up, you can become a ‘Referrer’ by sending your unique code to friends and family. For each person who signs up, you can get a $200 cash bonus if your account has a Net Liquidation Value (NLV) of at least $2,000 and you’ve placed at least one trade. They’ll also need to sign up using your link, deposit at least $10,000 within 30 days and keep at least $10,000 in the account for one year after opening it.

Example: if you deposit $30,000 and IBKR shares close at $50 that day, you get $100 worth of stock, which is 2 shares ($30,000 / 300 / $50). If you withdraw $15,000 the next day, you lose half of that award and keep 1 share. To reach the full $1,000 you need $300,000 in net deposits during the first year.

How long before I can cash out my free IBKR stock?

Once you start earning free IBKR shares through this referral promotion, you have to wait one year before you can sell, exchange, transfer, assign, or dispose of your bonus IBKR stock from the award date.

So, if you deposit gradually throughout the year, you’d also get gradual access to your bonus shares on a rolling basis over the next year. If you deposit $300,000 in one go to qualify for the full $1,000 worth of free stock, you can access all of those shares exactly one year from that date. You’ll receive any dividends and can vote with the shares while they’re locked.

Where is the IBKR referral bonus available?

Currently, you can qualify for the Interactive Brokers referral bonus if you’re based in any of the countries the brokerage operates in (apart from the exclusions described below).

You can check out the full list of worldwide countries here that Interactive Brokers allow users to reside in. The ‘Refer a Friend’ bonus promotion should be available in all these countries apart from a few exceptions.

Right now, this Interactive Brokers referral promotion is not available for users in:

• Denmark
• Portugal
• Japan
• Israel
• Spain
• Poland
• Mainland China

So, you may as well sign up for Interactive Brokers with a regular referral link. If you open your account with Interactive Brokers Canada or Interactive Brokers India, you can’t get the free welcome stock when someone refers you. Canadian clients can still refer friends and earn the $200 payment. Clients of Interactive Brokers India and Interactive Brokers Australia only get paid for friends who also open their account with that same IBKR entity.

When will this promo deal end?

This is an ongoing promotion offered by Interactive Brokers and the referral bonus is designed to encourage you to spread the word, helping them get new customers on board. But this Interactive Brokers referral promotion can change at any time. IBKR has already made it less generous: new clients used to get $1 of stock for every $100 deposited, and now it’s $1 for every $300.

Is there a limit to the number of IBKR referral I can make?

Yes, there’s a cap. You can refer up to 15 friends or family in a calendar year, which means potentially earning up to an extra $3,000 in bonus cash! You’re also allowed to refer up to 30 people in total. So you could earn up to $6,000 overall with the Interactive Brokers referral promotion.

Promotion Terms and Conditions

Before participating in the IBKR promotion, it’s essential to understand the terms and conditions to ensure you qualify and can fully benefit from the offer. Here are the key points:

• Geographic restrictions: The IBKR referral promotion is available worldwide except for residents of Spain, Portugal, Poland, Japan, Denmark, Israel and mainland China. Ensure you reside in an eligible country before participating.
• Excluded accounts: Tax-advantaged accounts are not eligible. Financial advisors, hedge funds, introducing brokers, proprietary trading firms and IBKR employees can’t take part, and you only get the welcome shares once, even if you open more than one account.
• Deposit requirements: There is no minimum deposit for the welcome stock, as the award grows with every $300 you deposit. The $10,000 minimum only applies to the referrer’s $200 payment: the referred client must deposit at least $10,000 within 30 days and keep at least that amount for one year.
• Bonus Payout Conditions: For every $300 in net deposits during the first year, you receive $1 worth of IBKR stock, up to a maximum of $1,000. The number of shares depends on the IBKR closing price on the day of each deposit.
• Referral program limits: You can refer up to 15 friends or family members per calendar year, with a total cap of 30 referrals. This allows you to potentially earn up to $6,000 in bonus cash through the program.
• Family and household restrictions: No shares or payments are awarded when the referrer and the referred client are family members or live at the same physical address.
• Referrer requirements: To earn the $200 payment, the referrer needs an individual or joint account with a net liquidation value of at least $2,000 and at least one securities trade placed. The referrer’s account must also still be open on the day the referred client funds their account.
• Selling restrictions: Awarded IBKR shares cannot be sold, transferred or used in derivatives for one year from the award date, and IBKR will reject any attempt to do so. If your account is closed or no longer in good standing before that date, you lose the shares still locked. In a margin account, IBKR can still sell them to cover margin requirements.
• Expiration date: The promotion is ongoing but may be modified or terminated at any time at IBKR’s discretion. Stay updated by regularly checking the IBKR website for the latest terms.
• Tax responsibilities: Participants are responsible for any tax obligations arising from the bonus shares or payments. IBKR may withhold shares to satisfy tax requirements as mandated by law.

Benefits of Interactive Brokers promotions

Interactive Brokers promotions offer traders several advantages:

• Additional Money: Earn up to $1,000 in free IBKR stock to boost your investment capital.
• Cost Savings: Reduce your initial expenses with bonus shares, enhancing your trading potential.
• Enhanced Trading Experience: Access advanced trading tools and charts for better market analysis.
• Extensive Research Tools: Utilize comprehensive market data and analysis techniques.
• Referral Payments: Once you’re a client, you can earn $200 for each eligible friend you refer, up to 15 per year and 30 in total.

Bottom line

The Interactive Brokers referral promotion is a great way for you to sign up to one of the biggest brokerage platforms in the world and get yourself up to $1,000 worth of free IBKR stock as a bonus!

Once you’re set up with Interactive Brokers, you can then become a referrer yourself. And, for every friend you refer who deposits at least $10,000 within 30 days and keeps it for a year, you can earn $200 in cash.

There are some international exceptions for the ‘refer a friend’ promotion, and qualifying criteria for the Interactive Brokers (IBKR) referral bonus can be quite strict. So, make sure you read all the details mentioned above before signing up and referring more friends.