Definition

1. Noun:
   • A financial services entity appointed by a corporation: A transfer agent is an organization, typically a bank or trust company, that is officially appointed by a corporation to manage and maintain the official records of its securities holders.
   • A record-keeping and administrative intermediary: Its primary functions include keeping accurate records of stock and bond ownership, processing transfers of ownership, issuing and canceling certificates, and handling related investor issues.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The company appointed a reputable bank to serve as its transfer agent.
  • If you lose your stock certificate, you should contact the transfer agent to request a replacement.
  • The transfer agent is responsible for ensuring dividend payments reach the correct shareholders.

Advanced Usage

• "to act as transfer agent": to perform the duties of a transfer agent.
  • The financial institution agreed to act as transfer agent for the new public offering.

Variants and Related Words

• Registrar (n): An entity, often working in conjunction with a transfer agent, that maintains the official list of a corporation's shareholders and ensures no more shares are issued than are authorized.
• Shareholder of record: A shareholder whose name is registered on the books of the corporation or its transfer agent.

Synonyms

• Securities administrator: An entity that administers records for securities.
• Record-keeping agent: An agent focused on maintaining ownership records.

Related Phrases

• Transfer of ownership: The process of changing the registered owner of a security, which is facilitated by the transfer agent.
• Certificate resolution: The process of solving problems related to physical or electronic stock or bond certificates, a key duty of a transfer agent.

Noun

1. an agency (usually a bank) that is appointed by a corporation to keep records of its stock and bond owners and to resolve problems about certificates