Interactive Brokers Referral Bonus: Earn Up to $1,000 in Free IBKR Stock

If you're considering opening an account with Interactive Brokers, there's never been a better time to get started. Through their generous referral program, new clients can earn up to $1,000 worth of free IBKR stock, while existing clients can earn $200 for each successful referral.

This referral bonus stands out as one of the most valuable welcome offers available from any major brokerage. The program is designed to reward both new and existing clients, creating a win-win situation for everyone involved.

What Is the Interactive Brokers Referral Program?

The Interactive Brokers "Refer-a-Friend" program allows existing IBKR clients to invite friends and family to open new brokerage accounts. When someone uses your referral link to sign up and meets the qualifying requirements, both parties receive substantial bonuses.

For new clients: You'll receive $1 worth of IBKR stock for every $100 you deposit into your account, up to a maximum of $1,000 in free shares. This means if you deposit the full $100,000, you'll get the maximum $1,000 bonus.

For referring clients: You'll earn a flat $200 payment for each friend who successfully opens an account, deposits at least $10,000, and maintains that balance for one year.

How to Get Started: Step-by-Step Guide

Getting your bonus is straightforward, but you'll need to follow the process correctly to ensure you qualify. Here's exactly what you need to do:

Step 1: Use the Correct Referral Link

To qualify for the bonus, you must open your account using a valid referral link. Click here to open your Interactive Brokers account and ensure you're eligible for the $1,000 stock bonus.

Step 2: Complete the Account Application

Fill out the standard IBKR account application. You'll need to provide personal information, financial details, and trading experience. The application typically takes 10-15 minutes to complete and approval usually happens within 1-2 business days.

Step 3: Make Your Initial Deposit

This is the critical step. You must deposit at least $10,000 within 30 days of opening your account to qualify for any bonus. The more you deposit (up to $100,000), the more free stock you'll receive.

Step 4: Watch Your Bonus Accumulate

Once you make deposits, IBKR will award shares daily based on your account balance. You'll see your "Welcome Share Balance" updated in your account, showing exactly how many shares you've earned.

Program Requirements and Restrictions

Understanding the eligibility requirements is crucial to ensure you receive your bonus. I've seen many people miss out simply because they didn't meet one of these criteria.

Geographic Restrictions

The referral program isn't available everywhere. Currently, residents of the following countries cannot participate:

• Spain
• Portugal
• Japan
• Denmark
• Israel
• Poland

If you're in Canada or India, you can refer others and earn the $200 referrer bonus, but you won't be eligible to receive free stock yourself.

Account Type Requirements

Not all account types qualify for the program:

Eligible accounts:

• Individual brokerage accounts
• Joint brokerage accounts

Ineligible accounts:

• Tax-advantaged accounts (IRAs, 401ks, etc.)
• Financial advisor accounts
• Hedge fund accounts
• Institutional accounts
• Proprietary trading firm accounts

Minimum Requirements

To participate as a referrer, your existing IBKR account must:

• Have a net liquidation value of at least $2,000
• Have executed at least one securities trade
• Be in good standing

How the Bonus Calculation Works

The bonus calculation might seem complex at first, but it's actually quite straightforward once you understand the mechanics.

For New Clients: Stock Award Formula

You receive $1 worth of IBKR stock for every $100 deposited. The number of shares you get depends on IBKR's stock price on the day you make your deposit.

Example calculation:

• You deposit: $10,000
• IBKR stock price: $50 per share
• Bonus calculation: ($10,000 × 0.01) ÷ $50 = 2 shares

The system updates your bonus daily as you make additional deposits during your first year. However, if you withdraw funds, your bonus will be reduced proportionally.

Withdrawal Impact on Bonuses

If you withdraw money during the first year, your bonus will be reduced using a "first in, first out" method. For example, if you had 10 shares and withdraw half your account balance, you'd lose 5 shares from your bonus.

For Referrers: Flat Payment Structure

As a referrer, you'll earn a straightforward $200 for each person you successfully refer, provided they:

• Open an account using your unique referral link
• Deposit at least $10,000 within 30 days
• Maintain that balance for a full year
• Execute at least one trade

You can refer up to 15 people per calendar year and 30 people total, meaning your maximum potential earnings are $6,000.

Important Terms and Conditions

Reading the fine print is essential with any financial promotion. Here are the key terms you need to understand:

One-Year Lock-Up Period

This is perhaps the most important restriction: you cannot sell, transfer, or dispose of your bonus shares for one full year from the award date. If you try to sell them before the anniversary date, you'll forfeit the shares entirely.

The only exception is if IBKR needs to liquidate shares to meet margin requirements in your account.

Household Restrictions

You cannot refer family members or others living at your exact physical address. This prevents abuse of the system and ensures the program rewards genuine referrals to new households.

Tax Implications

The bonus shares are considered taxable income. For U.S. tax residents, IBKR will issue a Form 1099-MISC reporting the fair market value of the shares when the transfer restrictions lapse (after one year).

IBKR may withhold shares to satisfy tax obligations, so factor this into your planning.

Program Modifications

Interactive Brokers reserves the right to modify or terminate the program at any time. While the program has been running consistently, terms can change, so it's worth taking advantage sooner rather than later.

Is Interactive Brokers Worth It Beyond the Bonus?

While the $1,000 bonus is attractive, you should evaluate whether IBKR is the right broker for your long-term needs. In my experience, Interactive Brokers excels in several areas that make it worthwhile even after the bonus period. You can read our in-depth IBKR review for more.

Strengths:

• Extremely low commission rates (often $0.005 per share) Learn which pricing tier to choose.
• Access to global markets (over 150 markets worldwide)
• Professional-grade trading platforms
• Competitive margin rates
• Advanced order types and risk management tools

Considerations:

• The platform can be overwhelming for beginners
• Account minimums are higher than some competitors
• Customer service can be slow during peak times

For active traders and investors with larger account balances, IBKR often provides better value than most competitors, making the referral bonus a nice addition to an already compelling offering.

The Bottom Line

The Interactive Brokers referral program offers one of the most generous welcome bonuses in the brokerage industry. For new clients, earning up to $1,000 in free stock is a substantial head start on your investment journey. For existing clients, the $200 per referral adds up quickly if you have friends and family interested in investing.

The key to success is understanding and following the requirements carefully. Make sure you use a valid referral link, meet the deposit minimums within the specified timeframe, and plan for the one-year holding period on your bonus shares.

If you're ready to get started, open your Interactive Brokers account here to claim your bonus. Remember, this offer can be modified or discontinued at any time, so it's worth taking advantage while it's available.

For more broker comparisons and the latest promotional offers, check out our comprehensive broker reviews or use our Broker Match tool to find the perfect platform for your investing needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to receive the bonus shares?

Your bonus shares are awarded daily as you make deposits during your first year. You'll see the "Welcome Share Balance" updated in your account immediately after each deposit, but the shares cannot be sold for one year from the award date.

Can I refer myself using a different email address?

No, this would violate the program terms. Referrals must be to genuine new clients who weren't previous IBKR account holders. Attempting to game the system can result in account closure and forfeiture of bonuses.

What happens if I don't maintain the $10,000 balance for the full year?

If your account balance drops below $10,000 during the required one-year period, you may forfeit your bonus eligibility. The terms require maintaining the balance for the full year to qualify for both the stock bonus and referrer payment.

Are there any trading requirements to keep the bonus?

The referred client must execute at least one securities trade for the referrer to qualify for the $200 payment. However, there's no ongoing trading requirement to keep your stock bonus once awarded.

Can I participate if I have an existing IBKR account that was closed?

No, the program is only for clients who have never held an IBKR account before receiving the referral invitation. Former account holders are not eligible, even if their previous account was closed.

What types of deposits count toward the bonus?

Cash deposits and transfers of securities both count toward your bonus calculation, based on their fair market value. However, the $10,000 minimum must be met within 30 days of opening your account.

Is the bonus available for business accounts?

The referral program is only available for individual and joint personal accounts. Business accounts, institutional accounts, and other entity types are not eligible for the bonus program.

‍

‍

_{When investing, your capital is at risk. This marketing content is provided by a paid Influencer of Interactive Brokers. Influencer is not employed by, partnered with, or otherwise affiliated with Interactive Brokers in any additional fashion. Influencer is a customer of Interactive Brokers. Interactive Brokers and Influencer have entered into a cost-per-click agreement under which Interactive pays Influencer a fee for each clickthrough of the Interactive Brokers URL posted herein. This content represents the opinions of Influencer, which are not necessarily shared by Interactive Brokers. The experiences of the Influencer may not be representative of other customers, and nothing within this content is a guarantee of future performance or success. Interactive Brokers provides execution and clearing services to its customers. Interactive Brokers makes no representation and assumes no liability to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided in this Influencer communication. None of the information contained herein constitutes a recommendation, offer, promotion, or solicitation of an offer by Interactive Brokers to buy, sell or hold any security, financial product or instrument or to engage in any specific investment strategy. Investing involves risks. Investors should obtain their own independent financial advice and understand the risks associated with investment products and services before making investment decisions. Risk disclosure statements can be found on the Interactive Brokers website.}