Statistics & Data Visualizations
Transfer Agents
June 13, 2025
Transfer agents record changes of ownership, maintain issuer security holder records, cancel and issue certificates, and distribute dividends. Because transfer agents stand between issuing companies and security holders, efficient transfer agent operations are critical to the successful completion of secondary trades. Section 17A(c) of the 1934 Act requires that transfer agents be registered with the SEC, or if the transfer agent is a bank, with one of three enumerated bank regulatory agencies.
Data Visualizations
Click on the link below each image to access interactive features of the graph.
Number of SEC-Registered and Bank-Registered TAs
(2012 - 2024)
Number of Registered TAs by
Regulatory Agency and Size (as of Mar. 31, 2025)
Number of Registered TAs by Location
(as of Mar. 31, 2025)
Statistics
Below are the statistics for the most recent available calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2024, as well as the most recent available calendar quarter, ending Mar. 31, 2025. The transfer agent statistics will be updated quarterly. For available statistics since 2012, view Statistics Download.
| Metric | As of Dec. 31, 2024 | As of Mar. 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of registered TAs | 318 | 319 |
| Number of registered TAs by regulatory agency | ||
| Number of SEC-registered TAs | 258 | 259 |
| Number of bank-registered TAs | 60 | 60 |
| Number of bank-registered TAs by bank regulatory agency | ||
| Number of bank-registered TAs - OCC | 25 | 25 |
| Number of bank-registered TAs - BGFRS | 22 | 22 |
| Number of bank-registered TAs - FDIC | 13 | 13 |
| Number of small registered TAs | 128 | 134 |
| Number of small registered TAs by regulatory agency | ||
| Number of small SEC-registered TAs | 99 | 104 |
| Number of small bank-registered TAs | 29 | 30 |
Statistics Guide
The Guide below provides a description of each metric, calculation method, and data source. To download Statistics Guide: Transfer Agent Statistics Guide
Description
The total number of TAs is the number of all transfer agents that are registered with the SEC, or if the transfer agent is a bank, with a bank regulatory agency as of a given date.
Calculation Method
The total number of registered TAs is calculated based on Forms TA-1 submitted by all TAs to their Appropriate Regulatory Agencies (ARAs); their registrations are effective and are not cancelled, revoked or withdrawn as of a given date.
Data Source
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR), Form TA-1(/A) and Form TA-W filings.
Description
The number of registered TAs by regulatory agency includes the number of SEC-registered TAs and the number of bank-registered TAs as of a given date. The bank-registered TAs are the transfer agents registered with bank regulatory agencies.
Calculation Method
The number of SEC-registered TAs and the number of bank-registered TAs are calculated based on the filing information in response to question 2 on the latest Form TA-1(/A) or question 3(a) on the latest Form TA-2(/A) as of a given date.
Data Source
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR), Form TA-1(/A) and Form TA-2 (/A) filings.
Description
The number of bank-registered TAs by bank regulatory agency is the number of transfer agents that are registered with each of three bank regulatory agencies as of a given date. Bank regulatory agencies are the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (BGFRS), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Calculation Method
The number of bank-registered TAs by bank regulatory agency is based on the filing information in response to question 2 on the latest Form TA-1(/A) or question 3(a) on the latest Form TA-2(/A) as of a given date.
Data Source
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR), Form TA-1(/A) and Form TA-2 (/A) filings.
Description
The number of small registered TAs is the total number of TAs that are registered with the SEC, or if the transfer agent is a bank, with a bank regulatory agency, and are considered as small TAs as defined below.
Calculation Method
A “small TA” is defined as a transfer agent who reported fewer than 1,000 in response to questions 4(a) and 5(a) on the latest Form TA-2(/A) as of a given date. This definition is different from the definition of small transfer agent in Rule 240.0-10(h), therefore this method cannot be used to calculate exactly the number of small registered TAs as defined in Rule 240.0-10(h).
Data Source
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR), Form TA-2 (/A) filings.
Description
The number of small registered TAs by regulatory agency includes the number of small SEC-registered TAs and the number of small bank-registered TAs as of a given date.
Calculation Method
A “small TA” is defined as a transfer agent who reported fewer than 1,000 in response to questions 4(a) and 5(a) on the latest Form TA-2(/A) as of a given date. This definition is different from the definition of small transfer agent in Rule 240.0-10(h), therefore this method cannot be used to calculate exactly the number of small registered TAs as defined in Rule 240.0-10(h) by regulatory agency.
Data Source
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR), Form TA-2 (/A) filings.
Description
The number of registered TAs by location is the number of registered TAs with the SEC and the bank regulatory agencies in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia (“DC”), and three U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands).
Calculation Method
The number of registered TAs by location is calculated based on the filing information in response to question 3(c), address of principal office where transfer agent activities are, or will be, performed, on the latest Form TA-1(/A) as of a given date. The location includes the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia (“DC”), and three U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands).
There are registered TAs outside the U.S. and its territories, and they are not included in the data visualization of “Number of Registered TAs by Location”.
Data Source
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR), Form TA-1 (/A) filings.
Statistics Download
The file below contains available transfer agent statistics since 2012.
| File | Format | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer Agent Statistics | xlsx | 14.82KB |
Related Materials
- Regulatory Background:
- Investor Bulletin:
- Data:
These statistics are produced by the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commission expresses no view regarding the statistics. The statistics are produced from filings on EDGAR. Staff cannot guarantee the accuracy of information provided in these filings. The statistics may change based on updated or revised data and methodology. The statistics are intended to assist the public in analyzing data contained in filings; however, they are not a substitute for such filings. Investors should review the relevant filings before making any investment decision.
Citation
URL: https://www.sec.gov/data-research/statistics-data-visualizations/transfer-agents
Author: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Staff
Name: SEC Statistics & Data Visualizations: Transfer Agents
Publication Date: Aug. 12, 2025
Last Reviewed or Updated: Aug. 12, 2025