Interactive Brokers

Exciting bonus with Interactive Brokers Singapore

Interactive Brokers offers exciting bonuses for new account holders. Here's how you can benefit:

Refer a Friend

What is a Refer a Friend Plan?

Interactive Brokers has a Refer a Friend plan where you and your friend can both earn rewards. When you refer a friend who opens an account and meets the eligibility criteria, you'll receive US$200 as an Interactive Brokers referral bonus. Your friend will also enjoy benefits, such as receiving IBKR shares based on their initial deposit – potentially up to US$1,000 worth of shares!

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Refer a Friend Interactive Brokers promotion, you must have an existing IBKR account with a net liquidation value of at least US$2,000 and have placed at least one securities trade. Your referred friend must open an individual or joint account, deposit US$10,000 within 30 days of opening the account, and maintain a balance of at least US$10,000 for one year.

Geographic restrictions apply. Residents of Japan, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Israel are not eligible to participate in the programme. Residents of Canada are eligible to participate as referrers and receive the US$200 referral bonus but are ineligible to earn welcome shares.

Restrictions

• Referrers are limited to 15 referrals per year and 30 referrals total.
• Referral bonuses and welcome shares will not be paid when the referrer and the new client are family members or others living at the same physical address.
• Tax-deferred accounts are ineligible for both the referral bonus and awarding of Interactive Brokers stock.
• Financial Advisors, Hedge Funds, and Institutional accounts, including introducing broker and proprietary trading accounts, are ineligible for the programme.

For a full list of restrictions, please refer to the Interactive Brokers Refer a Friend Terms and Conditions.

Interest on uninvested cash

With Interactive Brokers, you can earn interest on your settled cash balances – that's the uninvested cash in your account. The interest rate you earn depends on a few factors:

• Your account balance: Higher balances generally earn higher rates.
• Your Net Asset Value (NAV): This is the overall value of your account. Clients with a higher NAV earn more.
• The currency of your cash: Interest rates vary depending on the currency.

For example, if your account has a NAV of more than US$ 100,000, you can earn an annual rate of 3.83% on USD cash balances above US$ 10,000.

Important notes:

• Interest is calculated on each currency individually.
• You won't earn interest on balances below a certain threshold (e.g., the first USD 10,000 in USD cash).

To calculate your estimated interest earnings, you can use the calculator available here.

Interactive Brokers Singapore

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) was founded by Thomas Peterffy and is a leading global brokerage firm. Licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), IBKR provides a wide range of investment products and services to investors worldwide. With over 2.1 million client accounts and US$1.99 million in daily trade value, IBKR is a trusted and reliable platform for your investment needs.

Why should you invest with Interactive Brokers Singapore?

1. Low fees

One of the main reasons many Singaporeans choose Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is its incredibly low fees. Unlike some platforms that charge steep commissions or hidden spreads, IBKR offers a no-frills pricing model that helps you keep more of your profits. For example, buying S&P 500 ETFs or US-listed stocks often costs just a fraction of what local platforms might charge. For regular investors or those just starting out, this means every dollar saved on fees is a dollar added to your returns.

2. Exclusive range of “Education” suite

IBKR offers an exclusive “Education” suite that includes advanced trading analytics features, insights and research tools, free webinars, and courses for investors. This comprehensive suite helps you make informed investment decisions and enhance your trading skills.

3. Simple fee structure

IBKR offers a simple and transparent fee structure with two options:

• Volume-tiered pricing: Broker commission decreases based on volume.
• Low, fixed rate pricing: Fixed commission per share or a percentage of trade value.

This flexibility allows you to choose the pricing plan that best suits your trading needs.

4. Access to 150 markets in 33 countries

IBKR provides access to 150 markets in 33 countries, allowing you to diversify your portfolio and invest in a wide range of assets globally.

Where Interactive Brokers Singapore could do better

Interactive Brokers offers exciting bonuses for new account holders. Here's how you can benefit:

1. Customer service can be slow

While IBKR scores highly in terms of product offerings and fees, customer support can be a mixed bag. Some Singapore users have reported slow response times, especially during market volatility or platform outages.

If you're someone who values quick answers or live human help, this may be a point to consider. That said, the online help resources and FAQ sections are fairly robust if you're comfortable finding answers on your own.

2. Limited fractional share trading capability

Fractional shares are a game-changer for investors who want exposure to expensive stocks like Tesla or Amazon without forking out thousands. Unfortunately, IBKR’s support for fractional share trading is still limited in Singapore. For now, this means you'll need to buy whole shares for many global companies, which could be a barrier for investors with smaller capital.

Interactive Brokers Singapore’s exchanges

IBKR Singapore gives you access to a massive global network of exchanges, making it easier to diversify your portfolio across regions and industries. Whether you're eyeing US tech stocks, Hong Kong property plays, or European banks, the coverage is among the best in the business.

With more than 160 exchanges available, you’ll have no trouble creating a diversified portfolio. Here are some of the more notable exchanges.

North America

• NYSE (New York Stock Exchange)
• NASDAQ
• AMEX
• Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)
• Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE)

Asia/Pacific

• Singapore Exchange (SGX)
• Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX)
• Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE)
• Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
• Bursa Malaysia

Europe

• London Stock Exchange (LSE)
• Euronext
• Deutsche Börse (Xetra)
• SIX Swiss Exchange
• Borsa Italiana

Interactive Brokers Singapore's trading products

You can also trade a wide variety of assets to suit different investment styles and goals. Products include:

• Stocks
• ETFs
• Options
• Futures
• Bonds
• CFDs
• Mutual funds

Interactive Brokers Singapore's Forex trading

IBKR SG’s forex platform is built for transparency and efficiency.

• Over 100 currency pairs available
• Tight spreads (as low as 0.1 pip for major pairs like EUR/USD)
• No markup on spreads – just a clear commission per trade
• Deep liquidity from 17 of the world's largest interbank dealers
• Access to Tier 1 pricing even for retail investors
• Leverage of up to 20:1 (subject to MAS regulations)

This is especially useful for those in Singapore looking to hedge against USD fluctuations or diversify into global currencies without going through local banks’ marked-up exchange rates.

Is it safe to invest via Interactive Brokers Singapore?

Yes, it's safe. Interactive Brokers is tightly regulated in Singapore and globally, and employs strong safeguards to protect your money.

Licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

IBKR Singapore operates under a Capital Markets Services License issued by the MAS. This means it's required to follow strict financial regulations, transparency rules, and conduct standards—just like local banks and insurers. For investors in Singapore, this adds a strong layer of confidence and legal recourse if anything goes wrong.

Segregated client accounts

All funds you deposit are held in segregated accounts. This means your money is kept separate from the broker’s own operating funds. Even if the company runs into financial trouble, your assets remain protected and accessible. It’s a critical layer of security for peace of mind.

Secure 2FA authentication system

Security is taken seriously. IBKR uses a two-factor authentication (2FA) process for logins and transactions via its IBKR Mobile app. This extra step helps prevent unauthorised access even if your password is compromised. Given the rise in phishing scams in Singapore, this is a must-have feature.

Strict deposit and withdrawal procedures

To reduce fraud risks, IBKR only allows fund transfers to and from bank accounts registered under your name. It may seem like a hassle for some, but it’s designed to protect your capital. For example, even if someone manages to hack into your account, they won’t be able to withdraw funds to an unknown account.

How to start investing with IBKR Singapore?

Ready to start your investment journey with Interactive Brokers? Here's how to sign up via SingSaver and claim your bonuses:

• Apply Now: Click on the "Apply Now" button on this page. This will redirect you to the Interactive Brokers online application form.
• SingPass MyInfo (Optional): If you're a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident, you can speed up the application process by scanning your SingPass MyInfo QR code. This will auto-fill your personal information.
• Provide your information: Complete the application form with your personal and financial details.
• Choose your account type: Interactive Brokers offers two main account types: IBKR Lite and IBKR Pro. Choose the one that best suits your investment needs and experience.
• Fund your account: Make a deposit to activate your account.

By signing up through SingSaver, you'll gain access to exclusive Interactive Brokers open account promotion and benefits, like the Refer a Friend programme.

IBKR Lite vs. IBKR Pro

Interactive Brokers offers two main account types:

• IBKR Lite: This account is suitable for casual investors who trade less frequently and prefer a simplified fee structure.
• IBKR Pro: This account is designed for active traders and investors who require advanced tools and features, as well as access to margin trading.

Choose the account type that best aligns with your investment style and needs.

Interactive Brokers Singapore vs Tiger Brokers vs Moomoo: Which has the lowest fees?

When comparing fees, Moomoo generally offers the lowest minimum commissions for casual investors: S$1.50 for SG stocks, HK$15 for HK stocks, and US$0.99 for US stocks. Interactive Brokers shines for high-volume US traders with its ultra-low per-share rate of US$0.005 (min. US$1) and no platform fees across markets. Tiger Brokers tends to sit between the two, with slightly higher minimums and a simpler flat-rate structure.

For options trading, both IBKR and Moomoo offer US$0.65 per contract, while Tiger charges more with a mix of flat and per-share fees. All three platforms offer one free withdrawal per month, and none charge platform fees for SG or US stocks. If you’re investing in small amounts, Moomoo is the most cost-effective. But for serious US market traders, Interactive Brokers usually comes out ahead.

Frequently asked questions about IBKR Singapore