Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is ISITC?

The International Securities Association for Institutional Trade Communication comprises 1,500 individuals from 350 companies worldwide, including broker/dealers, custodians, investment managers, and vendors/utilities. Members come together to develop proposed standards that are designed to enhance efficiencies in trade processing and related communications. ISITC provides members with the means to revolutionize the securities-trading process.

Why should I join?

ISITC provides the best way to make your voice heard when it comes to the creation of market practices and standards for STP and other communications procedures throughout the trade lifecycle. The procedures proposed in member-generated publications and white papers are often adopted industry-wide and make trades faster and more efficient throughout the industry.

What are other benefits of membership?

ISITC membership:
• Gives you access to information vital to your business that will help keep your knowledge of industry trends current.
• Allows you to make connections with others in the industry.
• Offers significant discounts to valuable quarterly ISITC meetings, where much of the collaborative work takes place. Upcoming and previous events are detailed here.

What types of people and/or organizations are members? Can I see a list of companies?

ISITC is a global organization that comprises over 1868 individuals from 309 member firms, from the most prestigious companies. This balanced and influential group includes broker/dealers, custodians, investment managers, and vendors/utilities, as shown below:

Participants Type	Member Firms
Broker/Dealers	42
Custodians	44
Investment Managers	87
Vendors & Related Organizations	136

To view the list of member organizations, click here.

How do I join ISITC? Is there a membership fee?

If your firm is already a member, any firm employee may join at no additional fee. Click here for details.

My company is not listed as a member. May I still join?

You may not join as an individual, but your business can obtain corporate membership. Contact your region’s administrator for assistance in obtaining a corporate membership. The current North American annual corporate membership fee is $2,000. With this membership, any number of employees may join at no additional charge.

How is ISITC structured?

Worldwide Structure

ISITC is made up of a Steering Committee, four Executive Committees, Working Groups, and Industry Forums.

One individual per member firm is on the Steering Committee. He or she serves as the primary contact between ISITC and that firm.

Executive Committees lead ISITC regionally and globally via the North American, European, Asia Pacific, and Global Executive Committees. Those who sit on the Committees are executives who represent a cross-section of member-firm types.

Working Groups are made up of individuals who work together to create proposed communications standards the industry is encouraged to adopt (and frequently do). There are currently 12 such Groups. For more information on Working Groups, click here.

ISITC has four Industry Forums, each representing one of the main ISITC constituencies: broker/dealers, custodians, investment managers, and vendors/utilities. These Forums collaborate to discuss STP and other communications issues, first among themselves and then with other Forums to identify common issues that need to be addressed by Working Groups. For more information on Industry Forums, click here.

What is a Working Group? How can I join one?

Each Working Group is an assemblage of members who come together to solve a specific, industry-wide issue in STP and other forms of electronic and communications issues. Matters are discussed, presentations are given, and recommendations on improvements and innovations are published. More often than not, the majority in the industry adopts these recommendations as their standards.

For a list of Working Groups and more information, click here.

If you would like to join an existing Working Group, click here.

What is an Industry Forum? How can I join one?

ISITC’s Industry Forums provide members from specific constituencies with the unique opportunity to collaborate on securities-processing issues specific to their niche. Ideas are then discussed with those in other Forums to identify common objectives and next steps.

For a list of Industry Forums and more information, click here.

If you would like to join an Industry Forum, click here.

Why should I attend an ISITC event?

ISITC conferences provide members and non-members with the opportunity to participate in Working Groups and Industry Forums in order to discuss, propose changes to—and potentially improve—the processing issues that face the entire industry.

Other benefits include learning from industry leaders and getting updates on the status of the STP matters and other communications processes that affect them most. Many attendees have also improved their respective businesses by networking with peers they might not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet. Participants also find it effective to interact with their customers and suppliers in one place at one time.

For a list of upcoming events, click here.

Can I go to an ISITC event if I am not a member?

Absolutely. Click here to see our upcoming events.

Can I contribute to Working Groups and Industry Forums at events if I’m not a member?

Yes. ISITC events are the perfect settings for members and non-members to contribute to the proposals that can revolutionize the way trades are processed. All attendees can work with peers during Working Group and Industry Forum sessions to discuss and propose modifications to trade processes that can benefit the industry.

However, ISITC membership is valuable. The cost of ISITC events is greatly reduced for members, and members receive full ISITC.com privileges. To join, click here.