I might have to switch to IB. Anyhow, let's see how the real account operates for a while, I wouldn't be surprised if it was slower...
Hmm. I don't know what you mean by "slower".
The account opening at IB went straightforward, one just uploads 2 documents: scan of the national ID card (both sides seperately) and proof of the address (multiple choices here, I just used a bank statement, hid the irrelevant data on it).
Funding went also fast (from Eur to US). One can transfer any currency listed on their website even if the account is different, for example USD acct.
For clients from Euroland it makes sense to transfer EUR, because then an IBAN will be shown which simplifies the transfer.
Otherwise if one transfers USD then full bank information will be shown, too much data to enter...
Btw, initially we wanted to use the existing TD Ameritrade acct of my friend, but TD Ameritrade rejected to convert the cash account to a margin account b/c of my friend's residency in Germany... I wrote about it in a different thread here...
So, the transferred funds went back again, and then we opened the IB account, and the rest is history...
