Broker Summary - Interactive Brokers: Commission, Fees And Customer Support

Commission and Fee Schedule
Interactive Brokers has automated every aspect of the trade process in-house, allowing them to offer low commissions. IB's commission structure is complex and based on a variety of factors including chosen pricing structure (Flat Rate or Cost Plus), instrument, quantity traded, and the traded market. Flat Rate commissions for stocks, ETFs and Warrants in the United States, for example, are USD 0.005 per share with a minimum per order of USD 1.00 and a maximum per order of 0.5% of trade value. US commission rates generally are $1.00 for 100 shares, $1.00 for one stock option, and 85 cents for one e-mini S&P 500 Future. Margin rates range from 1.60% on $25,000 to 0.74% on $3.5 million or more. The Flat Rate and Cost Plus pricing structures apply to stocks and ETFs in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Hong Kong: Flat Rate and Cost Plus. By default, all new accounts use the Flat Rate pricing structure. A description of each is shown in the following figure:

Figure 3: IB\'s Flat Rate and Cost Plus pricing structures

IB's complete commission and fee structure can be viewed by visiting http://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/p.php?f=commission. Commissions are listed by:

• Stocks, ETFs and Warrants
  
  
• Options
  
  
• Futures and FOPs
  
  
• U.S. Single Stock Futures (SSFs)
  
  
• EFPs
  
  
• Forex
  
  
• Metals
  
  
• Bonds
  
  
• CFDs
  
  
• Funds
  
  
• Trade Desk (broker assisted trading)

SEE: Full-Service Brokerage Or DIY?



Customer Support
IB offers 24-hour customer service through regional Customer Service Centers located throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. In addition to phone support, assistance and information are available through online chat, email, fax and mail. The Knowledge Base on IB's Web site serves as a reference for glossary terms, how-to articles, troubleshooting tips and guidelines designed to assist customers with the management of their IB accounts. IB provides the following tips for receiving the best service:

Figure 4: IB\'s recommended form of contact for various types of requests