Is Interactive Brokers, LLC allowed to lend my shares?

Customer securities accounts at Interactive Brokers LLC are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC") for a maximum coverage of $500,000 (with a cash sublimit of $250,000) and under Interactive Brokers LLC's excess SIPC policy with certain underwriters at Lloyd's of London for up to an additional $30 million (with a cash sublimit of $900,000) subject to an aggregate limit of $150 million. Futures and options on futures are not covered. As with all securities firms, this coverage provides protection against failure of a broker-dealer, not against loss of market value of securities…

As a U.S. broker-dealer registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) for the purpose of facilitating client securities transactions, IB LLC is subject to various regulations relating to the extension of credit and margining of those transactions. In the case of foreign equity securities (i.e., non-U.S. issuer), Reg T. allows a U.S. broker to extend margin credit to those which either appear on the Federal Reserve Board's periodically published List of Foreign Margin Stocks, or are deemed to have a have a "ready market" under SEC Rule 15c3-1 or SEC no-action letter…

The term "fully paid securities" refers to securities held in a client's margin or cash account that have been completely paid for and are not being pledged as collateral to support the purchase of other securities on margin. The term is relevant from a regulatory perspective as the SEC requires that U.S. broker dealers segregate and maintain in a good control location (e.g., DTC or bank) all client securities which are fully paid. Such securities cannot be pledged or loaned to finance the activities of the firm or other clients…

The first step is to determine whether securities are considered fully-paid for or if they are rehypothecated as collateral for a margin loan balance.  A broker who finances client purchases of securities via margin loan is allowed by regulation to loan or pledge as collateral that client’s securities in an amount of 140% of the cash debit balance. For example, if a client maintaining a cash balance of $50,000 buys securities with a market value of $100,000, the debit balance will be $50,000.  The broker holds a lien on 140% of that balance or $70,000 of securities. Any securities held by the client in excess of that amount are referred to as excess margin securities ($30,000 in this example) and are required to be segregated unless the client provides authorization to Interactive Brokers LLC to lend through the Stock Yield Enhancement Program.  Note that only $30,000 of securities is eligible to be lent via SYEP…