UPDATED: December 10, 2025
Overview:
This is an important document regarding the imminent transfer of your account from IBUK and IBLLC to IBIE.
Your must take Action if you do not want this transfer to happen.
To avoid the Transfer (as described below), please instruct IBUK to move your account to another broker within 30 days from the date of this communication.
Please read all these FAQs, which summarise some of the key changes to the regulatory framework, which will result from the Transfer.
The FAQs is split into two parts.
- Part A sets outs key information in relation to the Transfer (as described below).
- Part B covers key legal and regulatory topics that arise as a result of the Transfer (as described below).
PART A – THE TRANSFER
- What is the situation currently and why do things have to change?
At present, your relationship with Interactive Brokers is led by our entity based in the United Kingdom, specifically Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (“IBUK”) and the services provided to you are provided by IBUK and, depending on the products you do business in, our US affiliate Interactive Brokers LLC (“IBLLC”).
As outlined in our previous communications, following the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, Interactive Brokers transferred the business conducted with IBUK and IBLLC to Interactive Brokers Limited (“IBIE”). In several instances, we invited you to consent to the migration of your account to IBIE, but we have not yet received a response. As a result your account has remained with IBUK and IBLLC on a restricted basis.
- When will the Transfer occur?
We expect the Transfer to occur on January 12th, 2026. You have until January 11th, 2026 to instruct IBUK to move your account to another broker.
- Who is IBIE? What sort of a firm is it?
IBIE is authorised as an investment firm by the Central Bank of Ireland. IBIE’s regulatory status and profile is very similar to IBUK’s, but there are some differences between the legislation that applies to your relationship with IBUK and IBLLC at present and that which will apply once your account is transferred to IBIE. We explain this in more detail in Part B of this FAQs.
- What are IBIE’s legal details?
Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited is registered as a private company limited by shares (registration number 657406) and is listed in the Register of Companies maintained by the Irish Companies Registration Office. Its registered address is North Dock One, 91/92 North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 D01 H7V7, Ireland.
- Who regulates IBIE and what are their contact details?
As set out above, IBIE is authorised as an investment firm by the Central Bank of Ireland. The Central Bank of Ireland’s contact details are set out below:
Location
The Central Bank of Ireland.
New Wapping Street
North Wall Quay
Dublin 1
D01 F7X3
Contact Numbers
Phone: +353 (0)1 224 6000
Fax: +353 (0)1 224 5550
Postal Address
Central Bank of Ireland
P.O. Box 559
Dublin 1
Public Helpline
E-mail: enquiries@centralbank.ie
Lo-Call: 1890 777 777
Phone: +353 (0)1 224 5800
PART B – LEGAL AND REGULATORY CHANGES THAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF
- What terms and conditions will govern my relationship with IBIE following the Transfer? Are these different to the ones that currently apply?
After the Transfer, your relationship with IBIE will be governed by the Customer Agreement between you and IBIE. A copy of the new Customer Agreement is available her
- What conduct of business rules will apply to my relationship with IBIE? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBIE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBUK?
There are some changes to be aware of, which we explain below.
If you do business with IBUK on a “carried” basis (in other words, you trade index options, futures and futures options and IBUK carries your account and custodies your assets) then the Financial Conduct Authority’s conduct of business rules currently apply to you. These rules are based heavily on the recast Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, the Markets in Financial Regulation and various delegated directives and regulations (collectively, “MiFID”).
If you currently do business with IBUK on an “introduced” basis (in other words, you trade products outside of those mentioned in the previous paragraph and you have a relationship with both IBUK and its US affiliate, IBLLC) a mix of conduct of business rules will currently apply to you. For instance, with respect to the introduction of your business to IBLLC, the Financial Conduct Authority’s conduct of business rules will apply (see above in relation to these). Once introduced to IBLLC, the relevant U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission rules and regulations (among others) will apply to IBLLC’s role (including its obligations in relation to best execution and custody).
Please note that it is of course possible that your business is split across these two scenarios (in other words some of your business is conducted on a “carried” basis while some of it is conducted on an “introduced” basis).
Going forward, the distinction between “carried” and “introduced” business will no longer apply and in each case set out above, Irish conduct of business rules will exclusively apply to your relationship with IBIE. Similar to the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s rules, the Irish conduct of business rules are based on MiFID and IBIE’s obligations in relation to best execution will largely mirror those that currently apply to IBUK.
In our view, while the rules that apply to our relationship will change, we do not consider such changes to be material or to result in a lesser degree of protection being afforded to you.
- How will my investments that I custody with IBIE be held from a legal/regulatory perspective? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBIE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBUK?
The rules that currently apply depends on the sort of business that you presently have with IBUK (please see the response to Question B2 above). Where you conduct “carried” business with IBUK, the Financial Conduct Authority’s client asset (or “CASS”) rules will apply. These rules are based heavily on MiFID. Where you conduct “introduced” business with IBUK and IBLLC, the US custody rules will apply to your custody assets.
Going forward, as set out above, the distinction between “carried” and “introduced” business will no longer apply and in each case set out above, Irish custody rules will exclusively apply to your relationship with IBIE. Like the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s rules, the Irish conduct of business rules are based on MiFID. Please consult the Client Assets Key Information Document attached here.
- How am I protected against loss? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBIE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBUK?
Currently, your eligible assets are protected from loss either under the US Securities Investor Protection Corporation at an amount of up to USD 500,000 (subject to a cash sublimit of USD 250,000) or the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme at an amount up to £85,000 (which regime applies depends on the relevant segment of your IBUK account, as explained in the response to Question B2 above). After the Transfer, the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme, which is administered by The Investor Compensation Company DAC, may protect your assets from loss should IBIE default and be unable to meet its obligations to you.
Ireland’s compensation scheme is similar to the compensation scheme you have access to in the UK, albeit with a lower limit. The purpose of the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme is to pay compensation to you (subject to certain limits) if you have invested money or investment instruments in either of the following cases:
-
- A firm goes out of business and cannot return your investments or money; and
- A Central Bank of Ireland determination or a court ruling has been made under the Investor Compensation Act 1998;
The Investor Compensation Company DAC (ICCL) administers the scheme. IBIE will be a member of the scheme.
The scheme covers investment products including:
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- Public and private company shares
- Units in collective investment schemes
- Life insurance policies (including unit-linked funds)
- Non-life insurance policies
- Tracker bonds
- Futures and options
Usually, you can only make a claim after a firm goes out of business and its assets have been liquidated and distributed to those who are owed money. Please check the details of the schemes for any limits that apply – not all losses will be covered as there are maximum levels of compensation. The ICCL will pay you compensation for 90% of the amount you have lost, up to a maximum of €20,000.
5. After the Transfer, will I still have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service?
In case of complaint, investors should follow the complaints procedure as referred to in the Customer Agreement. Ireland has a dispute resolution scheme in the form of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (“FSPO”). The FSPO is a free and independent statutory dispute resolution scheme for financial services. You may be eligible to make a complaint to the FSPO if you are an “eligible complainant”. Details of who are “eligible complainants” can be found on www.fspo.ie. The FSPO can be contacted at:
Postal Address
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman
Lincoln House,
Lincoln Place
Dublin 2
D02 VH29
Telephone
+353 (0)1 567 7000