Account Title Mismatch
- The account title at IBKR and your delivering broker must match exactly for an ACATS transfer to process successfully. This is one of the most common reasons transfers are rejected.
Before You Transfer
If you know there is a name discrepancy in advance, you can:
- Update your account title at IBKR through your account profile settings, or
- Contact your delivering broker to align the name on their records.
Resolving this beforehand saves time, since rejected transfers must be resubmitted.
Common Causes of a Minor Name Mismatch
- In many cases, a mismatch occurs even though both accounts belong to the same person. The difference is simply in how the name is recorded.
Common examples include:
- A missing or added middle initial or suffix (e.g., "John Doe" vs. "John A. Doe")
- A nickname used instead of a legal name (e.g., "Bob" vs. "Robert")
- Formatting differences in a surname, such as hyphens or spacing (e.g., "Smith-Jones" vs. "Smith Jones")
- Minor variations in a trust or entity name, such as date formatting or a missing "dtd"
How to Resolve a Name Mismatch
- Contact the delivering broker to adjust your records to match
- Alternatively, the broker can send a so called "One-and-Same" Letter to IBKR (not commonly used)
OR
- Submit a "One-and-the-Same" confirmation via a web ticket through our Client Portal. State the registration names on both accounts and confirm they belong to the same individual.
- From the delivering broker's side: The other broker can provide a One-and-Same Letter on their end (not common).
This process essentially confirms that the two accounts, despite the title discrepancy, belong to the same individual.
Please Note
- IBKR does not allow transfers with change in beneficial ownership.