Public's 1% transfer match, explained

Updated November 5, 2026 · Offer data last verified 2026-11-05 · Not financial or tax advice.

Public pays a 1% match on the value of assets you transfer in: a brokerage account by ACATS, or an IRA or old 401(k) moved into a Public IRA. Public's help page says there is no cap. The catch is timing: the match isn't paid at once. It arrives in up to 60 equal monthly payments over five years. Here's how it works, from Public's official FAQ and our Public offer page.

How much you get

The match is 1% of the cash and securities you bring over, valued on the day the transfer settles. Examples:

Transfer value	Total match (1%)	Monthly payment (÷60)
$5,000	$50	$0.83
$25,000	$250	$4.17
$100,000	$1,000	$16.67
$500,000	$5,000	$83.33

Illustrative amounts calculated from the 1% rate. Spread over five years, 1% works out to only about 0.20% a year.

How it's paid

The first payment lands about a month after the transfer settles, then roughly the same day each month until the match is paid out. Public says each payment is yours once received: "no hold period, no clawbacks" on money already paid.

What reduces the match

Trading is fine. You can buy, sell and trade inside the account. Market gains or losses don't change the match.
Withdrawals cut future payments. Money that was already at Public, or added later outside the transfer, can be withdrawn first. After that, each dollar withdrawn reduces the eligible amount dollar for dollar, permanently.
Closing the account stops payments still owed on that transfer.

This is a different structure from a classic hold-then-pay bonus. See holding periods and clawbacks.

Transfer fees and timing

If your old broker charges an outgoing fee and the transfer is worth $5,000 or more, Public reimburses up to $100. Public says it confirms the transfer within 1 to 3 business days and most complete within 10 business days. Unsupported assets can't be transferred. More in how ACATS transfer bonuses work.

Is it worth it?

Public's match is unusual because it's uncapped, so it scales to large portfolios. But five years is a long commitment for roughly 0.20% a year. If you have a smaller balance and want a faster payout, compare the Moomoo ACATS transfer bonus and the best brokerage bonuses this month:

Offer	Max bonus	Min deposit	Hold	Best yield	Source
CIT Bank / First Citizens Self-Directed Investing	$750	$1,000	60d	15.21%	official terms ↗
E*TRADE	$10,000	$1,000	365d	5.00%	official terms ↗
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing	$1,000	$5,000	90d	4.06%	official terms ↗
Citi Personal Wealth Management	$5,000	$50,000	90d	4.06%	official terms ↗

Taxes

Payments into a taxable account are generally income in the year received, so a five-year schedule can spread income across several tax years. Payments into an IRA follow the IRA's treatment. See are brokerage bonuses taxable?

General information only. This isn't financial or tax advice. Offers change or end without notice, and the official terms always govern. Confirm everything on the provider's page before you act. See our disclaimer.

Official page read by hand on 2026-10-30: official terms ↗. Amounts and hold come from our offer database (last verified 2026-11-05).

FAQ

How much is Public's transfer bonus?

1% of the value of the assets you transfer, measured on the settlement date. Public says there is no cap.

When is the Public 1% match paid?

In up to 60 equal monthly payments over five years, starting about a month after the transfer settles.

Does Public's match apply to IRAs and 401(k)s?

Yes. Public lists ACATS transfers into a brokerage account and transfers or rollovers from outside retirement accounts into a Public IRA as eligible.

What happens if I withdraw money from Public?

Unmatched money can come out first. After that, withdrawals permanently reduce the amount eligible for the match, lowering future payments. Closing the account stops remaining payments.

Does Public pay my transfer fee?

Public reimburses up to $100 of an outgoing transfer fee when the transfer is worth $5,000 or more.