To attract new investing customers, brokerage firms are offering generous cash bonuses, free stocks, investment matches and other rewards.
Whether you’re opening your first brokerage account or moving an existing portfolio, the right promotion can add hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars to your investment balance. The biggest bonus isn’t always the best deal, though — deposit requirements, holding periods, fees and investment features should all be top of mind when deciding which broker provides long-term value.
CNBC Select reviewed more than two dozen online brokerage accounts to pick the top brokerage account bonuses this month, with details on how to qualify. For more on how we made our choices, read our methodology.
Top brokerage account bonuses
Cash bonuses
Stock bonuses
E*TRADE Bank: up to $10,000 cash bonus
How to get the bonus:
- Be a new E*TRADE client and open one new eligible brokerage (non-retirement) account
- Fund it with $1,000 or more in new money or securities within 60 days of account opening.
Deadline: Oct. 31, 2026
E*TRADE
-
Minimum deposit and balance
Varies depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum to open an E*TRADE brokerage account; minimum $500 deposit to invest in robo-advisor platform Core Portfolios.
-
Fees
Vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Zero commission fees for stock, ETF and options trades; zero transaction fees for over 4,400 mutual funds; robo-advisor Core Portfolios charges a 0.30% annual advisory fee.
-
Investment options
Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, ETFs, options and futures
-
Investment vehicles
Robo-advisor: E*TRADE Core Portfolios IRA: E*TRADE Traditional, Roth, Rollover, Beneficiary, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, IRA for Minors and E*TRADE Complete™IRA Brokerage and trading: E*TRADE Trading Other:E*TRADE Coverdell ESA (Education Savings Account), Custodial Account for minors and small business retirement plans
-
Educational resources
In-depth articles and videos, access to Morgan Stanley research and institutional-grade market insights.
Pros
- No commission fees for stock, ETF and options trades
- No transaction fees for over 4,400 mutual funds
- Core Portfolios offers automated investing with a choice of standard, socially responsible (ESG), smart beta and tax-sensitive portfolio strategies
- Tax-loss harvesting available through Core Portfolios at no additional cost
- Active traders receive volume discounts on options
- Free analyst research and investing tools
Cons
- Core Portfolios requires $500 minimum to enroll and charges 0.30% annual advisory fee
- No access to certified financial planners through Core Portfolios
- No forex trading
Citi® Personal Wealth Management: up to $5,000 cash bonus
How to get the bonus:
- Open or enroll a new or existing eligible Citi Personal Wealth Management (CPWM) account
- Deposit new funds within two months of account opening
- Maintain the balance through the end of the next month (i.e., three months after the enrollment month).
- If you meet the requirements, your bonus should be credited to your account within seven months of account opening.
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2026
Citi® Personal Wealth Management
-
Minimum deposit and balance
$25,000 minimum balance required for Citi Wealth Builder Plus guided portfolio; the Citigold Relationship requires at least $200,000 in combined average monthly balance across eligible deposit and investment accounts. No minimum for self-directed investing through Citi Self Invest.
-
Fees
Vary depending on account type: Citi Wealth Builder robo-advisory accounts cost 0.25% annually, while hybrid advisor-assisted accounts cost 0.60%. Traditional advisory account fees are tiered based on total assets. General brokerage accounts have $75 annual fee (unless waived).
-
There is a $100 fee if you don’t meet minimum account requirements, though exemptions apply if you have over $25,000 in total assets or accounts linked to Citigold/Citi Priority checking products.
-
Investment options
Stocks, equities, ETFs, mutual funds, fixed income, alternative investments like private equity and hedge funds.
-
Investment vehicles
Managed Accounts: Work with a dedicated Wealth Advisor, minimums range from $50,000 to $100,000. Guided Investing (Citi Wealth Builder and Wealth Builder Plus): Robo-advisor or hybrid option that combines automated digital investing with an advisor-led financial plan. Self-Directed (Citi Self Invest): Commission-free trades on equities and ETFs, no account minimums for standard brokerage or IRA accounts.
Pros
- Choice of managed, automated, hybrid and self-directed programs
- $25,000 minimum is lower than many competitors
- Can link to Citi accounts to waive the minimum account fee
Cons
- Minimum balance fee applied to accounts under $25,000 that are not linked to premium checking package
- Stock and equities are outsourced to a third party
- Some funds charge management and performance fees
TradeStation: up to $3,500 cash bonus
How to get the bonus:
- Open a new non-IRA TradeStation account with offer code 0148AGGL
- Make qualifying deposits of at least $5,000 in new funds within 45 days
- Maintain that balance for a 270-day holding period.
Deadline: July 31, 2026
TradeStation
-
Minimum deposit and balance
$0 minimum deposit to open a standard account, but cash accounts need a minimum of $1, margin accounts require at least $2,000 and futures accounts require $5,000.
-
Fees
TradeStation charges $0 commissions on self-directed U.S. stock and ETF trades. Listed options are available with $0 per-contract commissions, although exchange, regulatory and routing fees may apply. Standard futures commissions are tiered from $1.75 down to $0.50 per contract per side, based on trading volume; Micro futures range from $0.50 to $0.25 per contract per side.
-
Bonus
Tiered bonus of up to $3,500 available for making qualifying deposits of up to $1 million or more in new funds within 45 days and maintaining that balance for a 270-day holding period.
-
Investment vehicles
Titan X (for active traders), Desktop (power users), OptionStation (serious options trading), OptionStation Pro (Equity options), FuturesPlus (futures options), Web Trading (stocks , options and futures), mobile app (stocks, options, futures)
-
Investment options
Stocks, ETFs, single- and multi-leg options, futures, mutual funds and bonds
Pros
- International investors can access U.S. markets.
- Wide range of account types.
- EasyLanguage enables users to write and test their own trading strategies.
- Backtesting and virtual trading available.
Cons
- No robo-advisors or certified financial planners
- Does not offer crypto or forex
- Doesn’t offer fractional shares
Betterment: up to $2,000 cash bonus
How to get the bonus:
- Open any individual Betterment investing account (including a Roth or traditional IRA)
- Deposit or roll over the required minimum funds within 45 days.
- Qualified deposits that are withdrawn during a three-year holding period will be subject to an early removal fee.
- You should receive your reward about 45 days after the qualification period.
Deadline: Aug. 31, 2026
Betterment
-
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. For example, Betterment doesn’t require clients to maintain a minimum investment account balance, but there is an ACH deposit minimum of $10. Premium Investing requires a $100,000 minimum balance.
-
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected, account balances, etc. Base price is $5/month for investing accounts; automatically switches to 0.25% annually once you reach $24,000 in total balance or set up $200/month in recurring deposits. Premium plan is 0.65% annually.
-
Investment vehicles
-
Investment options
Stocks, bonds, ETFs and cash
-
Educational resources
Betterment’s resources hub offers expert-written guides on investing basics, retirement planning, and personal finance, designed to help investors at every level make more informed decisions.
Terms apply. Does not apply to crypto asset portfolios.
Pros
- No trade or transfer fees
- Automated investing with portfolios built around your financial goals, timeline and risk tolerance
- Assign specific goals to each portfolio and invest using different strategies
- Quick and easy account setup with the ability to sync external retirement accounts
- Advanced features include automatic rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting and socially responsible investing
- Premium plan users ($100,000 minimum) get unlimited access to certified financial planners (CFPs)
Cons
- $5/month fee for investing accounts (switches to 0.25% annually once you hit $200/month in recurring deposits or $24,000 in total balance)
- Premium plan requires a $100,000 minimum balance
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing: up to $1,000 cash bonus
How to get the bonus:
- Open a new J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account (general investment, traditional or Roth IRA).
- Fund it with at least $5,000 in qualifying new money within 45 days of enrollment.
- Your bonus will be determined on day 45 from enrollment, based on the amount of new money in the account.
- Maintain the balance for 90 days.
- Your cash bonus will be credited to your account within 15 days of all the requirements being met.
Deadline: Oct. 21, 2026
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
-
Minimum deposit and balance
No minimum deposit to open anaccount. Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle.
-
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle.
-
Zero commission fees on online trades for U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options with a $0.65 fee per contract. The account also has transfer and incidental fees. Sales of U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs and options are subject to a transaction fee of between $0.01 and $0.03 per $1,000 principal.
-
Bonus
Earn up to $1,000 cash when you open and fund a new J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money by July 21, 2026: $50 bonus for $5,000–$24,999; $150 for $25,000–$99,999; $325 for $100,000–$249,999; $1,000 for $250,000 or more. New money must be funded within 45 days and maintained for 90 days from enrollment. Terms apply.
-
Investment vehicles
IRA: Traditional, Roth and Rollover IRAs | Brokerage and trading: General investment account, joint account, trust account
-
Investment options
Stocks, ETFs (including cryptocurrency ETFs), mutual funds, money market funds, options, fixed income products, and treasuries
-
Educational resources
Retirement planning tools, J.P. Morgan analyst research and insights, stock screeners, advanced charting and personalized market alerts
Pros
- Commission-free online trades on U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options
- No minimum account balance to get started
- Fractional shares available for S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 stocks and ETFs starting at $5
- Access to J.P. Morgan analyst research, price targets and market insights
- Advanced tools, including stock screeners, watchlists and performance tracking
- Cryptocurrency ETFs available, including Bitcoin and Ethereum
- Seamless integration with Chase banking accounts
- Margin trading available on stocks, ETFs, options, fixed income and mutual funds
- Can open a general investment account, trust account, Traditional or Roth IRA
Cons
- Sales are subject to a regulatory transaction fee of between $0.01 and $0.03 per $1,000 of principal
- Platform best-suited for beginner to intermediate investors
- No robo-advisor option for automated investing
- Limited account types compared to full-service brokerages (no 529 plan or custodial accounts)
Charles Schwab: up to $1,000 cash bonus
How to get the bonus:
- Get a referral code from an existing Schwab customer
- Open an eligible investment account
- Make a qualifying net deposit of cash or securities within 45 days of opening the account.
- Your Bonus Award will be deposited into your account about a week after the 45-day qualifying period.
- If you don’t know a Schwab client, you may still be eligible for Schwab Starter Kit ®, which comes with $50 to split equally across the top five stocks in the S&P 500®.
Charles Schwab
-
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No account minimum for active investing through Schwab One®Brokerage Account. Automated investing through Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® requires a $5,000 minimum deposit
-
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Schwab One®Brokerage Account has no account fees, $0 commission fees for stock and ETF trades, $0 transaction fees for over 4,000 mutual funds and a $0.65 fee per options contract
-
Investment vehicles
Robo-advisor: Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® IRA: Charles Schwab Traditional, Roth, Rollover, Inherited and Custodial IRAs; plus, a Personal Choice Retirement Account® (PCRA) Brokerage and trading: Schwab One® Brokerage Account, Schwab Global Account™, Schwab Organization Account and Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade™
-
Investment options
Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs and ETFs
-
Educational resources
Schwab offers courses, educational articles, videos, and webinars for investors at every level, plus advanced screeners, research tools, and market insights through the Schwab Center for Financial Research.
Pros
- $0 minimum deposit for active investing
- No commission fees for stock and ETF trades; no transaction fees for over 4,000 mutual funds
- thinkorswim® trading platform offers advanced charting, strategy testing and multi-device access
- Robo-advisor Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® available with no advisory fee or commissions
- Access to on-demand advice from Schwab investment professionals
- Nearly 400 brick-and-mortar branches across the U.S. for in-person support
Cons
- $5,000 minimum required for Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® robo-advisor
- $0.65 fee per options contract
- Tax-loss harvesting only available on balances of $50,000 or more within Intelligent Portfolios®
- High cash allocation requirement in Intelligent Portfolios® may limit returns compared to competitors
Merrill Edge: up to $600 cash bonus
Merrill Edge
-
Minimum deposit and balance
No minimum for self-directed accounts. Minimum investment of $1,000 for Merrill Guided Investing and $20,000 for Merrill Guided with an Advisor.
-
Fees
Commission-free stock and ETF trading for self-directed accounts. Broker-assisted trades: $29.95. No commissions for online trading of new-issueCDs or Treasury bonds. Secondary-market corporate, municipal and agency bonds cost $1 per bond ($10 minimum and $250 maximum). There is a $49.95 fee for closing a retirement account.
-
Bonus
Earn up to $600 by opening an eligible Merrill Edge account with an offer code and making a qualifying investment of at least $20,000 into your new account within 45 days. You must maintain that balance for at least90 days.
-
Investment vehicles
Merrill Edge Self-Directed (free), Merrill Guided Investing (0.45% annual fee), Merrill Guided Investing with an Advisor (0.85% annual fee). Individual, joint and custodial accounts and traditional, Roth, SEP and Rollover IRAs
-
Investment options
Stocks, equities, ETFs, mutual funds, listed options, UITs, fixed income securities (bonds)
Pros
- Self-directed accounts have $0 commission and no minimums
- Seamless integration with Bank of America accounts
- 24/7 phone, email and online chat support
- Idea Builder tool helps new investors discover investing options
- In-person help available at Bank of America branches.
Cons
- Broker-assisted trades can cost up to $29.95
- No futures, forex, crypto trading or fractional shares
- Limited securities
Ally Invest: up to $200 cash bonus
How to get the bonus:
- Earn $200 when you open an eligible new Ally Invest account and transfer money in from a non-Ally account or $100 when you transfer money from an existing Ally Bank account.
- Open a new Self-Directed Trading account and deposit at least $1,000 in cash and/or securities within 30 days. Keep the funds in the account for a minimum of 90 days.
OR - Open a new robo-portfolio account and set up automated monthly recurring transfers of at least $50, with the first transfer posting to your account within 30 days of account opening. Complete at least three consecutive automated, monthly recurring transfers of at least $50 each.
- Your bonus will appear within 30 days of all steps being completed
Deadline: Dec. 31, 2026.
Ally Invest®
-
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No account minimum for Self-Directed Trading. $100 minimum for Robo Portfolios. $100,000 minimum for Personal Advice with a dedicated fiduciary advisor.
-
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Self-Directed Trading has zero commission fees for stock, ETF and options trades; $0.50 per options contract. Robo Portfolios offer two structures: a cash-enhanced portfolio with no advisory, trading or rebalancing fees (30% of portfolio held in interest-earning cash), or a market-focused portfolio with a 0.30% annual advisory fee (approximately 2% cash allocation). ETF expense ratios apply to both.
-
Investment vehicles
-
Investment options
Stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, mutual funds, margin account and forex trading
-
Educational resources
Offers informational articles to help users improve their understanding of investment strategies and market trends
Pros
- $0 minimum deposit for Self-Directed Trading
- No commission fees for stock, ETF and options trades
- Cash-enhanced Robo Portfolio available with zero advisory, trading or rebalancing fees
- Four portfolio types to choose from: Core, Income, Tax-Optimized and Socially Responsible
- Cash buffer in cash-enhanced portfolios earns a competitive variable interest rate
- Seamless integration with Ally Bank for customers who already bank with Ally
- Access to a fiduciary financial advisor through Personal Advice for accounts of $100,000 or more
- 24/7 live customer service
- Includes charts and calculators to help investors analyze trades
Cons
- Cash-enhanced Robo Portfolio holds 30% in cash, reducing overall market exposure
- Market-focused Robo Portfolio charges 0.30% annual advisory fee
- No tax-loss harvesting available on Robo Portfolios
- $100,000 minimum required for access to a human financial advisor
- Mutual funds may require a transaction fee
moomoo: up to $1,000 in free Nvidia stock
How to get the bonus:
- Register a moomoo account and make the required deposit
- Maintain the funds for the qualifying period (typically 60 days)
- Claim your pending reward through the app’s Promotion Center
- You’ll also earn 8.1% APYon uninvested cash for 60 days.
Moomoo Financial
-
Minimum deposit and balance
No minimum deposit or balance requirements.
-
Fees
$0 commission on U.S. stocks and ETFs. There is a $0.99 platform fee per order for U.S. stocks and a $0.50 per-contract fee for U.S. index options. There is no account maintenance or inactivity fee
-
Bonus
Receive up to $1,000 in free NVDA stock and 8.1% APY on uninvested cash for making a minimum required deposit and maintaining that balance during the qualifying period (then 3.35 APY)
-
Investment vehicles
Fundamental Engine (research, valuation, insider activity, analyst coverage), Options Engine (options strategy, risk management, order execution), Technical Engine (charting, active trading, strategy testing)
-
Investment options
U.S. and global stocks, ADRs, OTC securities, IPOs, fractional shares, Treasuries, ETFs, equity and index options, cryptocurrency (including Bitcoin and Ethereum)
Pros
- Flat 6.8% margin rate on U.S. stocks
- Nominimum deposit or inactivity fees
- $0 commission equity options trades
- Access to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and some mainland China A-shares
- 8.1% APY on cash balances for three months
Cons
- No mutual funds, individual bonds or retirement accounts
- No futures trading from U.S. accounts
Albert: up to $200 in free stock
How to get the bonus:
- To claim up to $200 in free stock, download the Albert app and create an investment account
- Turn on the “Smart Money” auto-investing feature and build your portfolio
- Deposit at least $1,000 within 90 days of account opening.
- Maintain an Albert subscription plan for at least six months from the date of account creation.
- The six-month hold period can be waived if you refer three people and they complete the enrollment requirements.
Albert
-
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum initial investment of $1 with no minimum balance requirements
-
Fees
Albert charges zero-commission fees for trades with a $1 minimum. Accessing the investing platform requires a paid subscription to Albert Genius, which ranges from $14.99 to $39.99 per month.
-
Bonus
Get $200 in free stockwhen you deposit at least $1,000 within 90 days of account opening and maintain an Albert subscription plan for at least six months from the date of account creation. (Six-month hold period can be waived if you refer three people and they complete the enrollment requirements)
-
Investment vehicles
Self-Directed investing, Albert-managed Strategies, Smart Money automated Investing
-
Investment options
Stocks, ETFs and fractional shares
-
Educational resources
Pros
- $1 minimum deposit required to start investing
- Cash bonus incentives frequently offered
- Pre-built portfolios tailored to specific financial goals and interests (e.g., socially responsible investing)
- Subscribers have access to human financial experts with advice on budgeting, investing and more
Cons
- Albert Genius subscription needed for access to investing tools and most other features
- Does not support options, margin, or crypto trading
Robinhood: up to $200 in free stock
How to get the bonus:
- Sign up via a Robinhood promo code or referral link, link your bank or debit card and deposit at least $1.
- The cash value of the gift stock you receive could range from $5 to $200.
- You can use the reward to claim a fractional share of a stock.
- You can sell your gift stockthree trading daysafter claiming it and use the proceeds toward buying other stocks.
- If you want to withdraw the proceeds, you must keep the cash value in your account for at least 30 days after claiming it.
Robinhood
-
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum required to open an account or to start investing
-
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Commission-free trading; regulatory transaction fees and trading activity fees may apply
-
Bonus
Get a free stock added to your brokerage account when you link your bank account and fulfill the promotion conditions (keep it or sell after 2 trading days)
-
Investment vehicles
-
Investment options
Stocks, ETFs, options, fractional shares, IPOs, and select cryptocurrencies Robinhood Crypto (availability varies by location)
-
Educational resources
-
Terms apply. *(Review Robinhood disclosureshere.)
Pros
- $0 minimum deposit to open an account and start investing immediately
- Commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, options and crypto
- Get a free stock just for linking your bank account
- Access to fractional shares (own a piece of stock for just $1)
- Beginner-friendly app with built-in educational content
Cons
- No human advisor or managed portfolio option
- Fees outside of commissions may apply
What is a brokerage account?
A brokerage account allows you to buy and sell stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs and other securities. Like a savings or checking account, you can withdraw and deposit funds, but your money grows through investments, rather than an interest rate determined by the bank. While deposit accounts are protected by the FDIC, you can also lose money with a brokerage account, depending on how your securities perform.
There are many different types of brokerage accounts:
1.Self-directed brokerage account: You choose and manage your own investments, such as stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. Self-directed accounts are best for experienced investors who want to be hands-on with their investment decisions.
2. Robo-advisor account: Computer algorithms build and manage a diversified portfolio based on your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. Robo-advisors are good for beginners or investors who want a hands-off approach and they usually have much lower fees but limited customization options.
3. Managed brokerage account: A human advisor helps manage your portfolio. Managed accounts are well-suited to investors who appreciate professional guidance and a strategy tailored to their goals, but they come with higher fees.
4. Individual taxable brokerage account. A standard investment account for buying assets such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. It uses after-tax dollars and has no contribution limits or early withdrawal penalties, but any capital gains and dividends are taxed in the year they are earned. Taxable brokerage accounts are good for intermediate- to long-term goals outside of retirement, such as buying a house.
5. Retirement brokerage accounts: Designed for retirement savings and offer tax advantages, including traditional and Roth IRAs.
6. Joint brokerage account: Owned by two or more people, typically spouses, who can access and manage the account.
7. Custodial brokerage account: A custodial account is opened by an adult for a minor. The adult manages the account until the child reaches the age required by state law.
What is a brokerage account bonus and how does it work?
A brokerage account bonus is a promotional incentive to encourage new customers to open and fund a brokerage account. It can be in the form of a cash reward, free stock or some other perk.
To qualify for the bonus, you typically need to open a new eligible account and deposit or transfer a minimum amount within a promotional window (usually 30 to 60 days). Some firms offer larger bonuses for larger deposits.
You also need to keep the balance in the account for a minimum holding period (often 90 days or longer).
For example, if you open a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with $5,000 and maintain that balance for 90 days, you could receive $50. If you deposit $250,000, that cash bonus increases to $1,000.
Bonuses are usually available only to new customers, although if you had a deposit account, loan or other non-brokerage account with the company, you might still qualify.
All investments involve a level of risk, however, and your losses could outweigh the value of a bonus. If your chief reason for opening a brokerage account is to get the bonus, consider a checking or savings account bonus instead.
Are brokerage account bonuses taxable?
Yes, whether you are receiving a cash bonus or free stock for opening or funding a brokerage account, both are considered taxable interest income. If the cumulative bonus is worth at least $10, the brokerage must issue you and the IRS a Form 1099-INT.
Even if your reward is worth less than $10 or you don’t receive a 1099-INT, you are still legally obligated to report it as income on your return.
Pros and cons of brokerage account bonuses
There are benefits and drawbacks to opening a brokerage account for the bonus.
Pros
- A cash incentive can make it easier for a new investor to get started
- Bonuses can offset account-opening costs, trading fees or other expenses.
- A promo offer may be the push you need to shop for a new platform
- Some brokers offer bonuses for moving an existing portfolio, which can make switching providers more worthwhile.
Cons
- You have to meet substantial deposit requirements and leave the money invested for several months
- The bonus will probably be treated as taxable income, so you won’t keep the full amount.
- You may be fooled into joining a brokerage with high fees, poor investment options or other red flags.
- Money held to qualify for a bonus could be saved or invested elsewhere.
- Promotions can include fine print about eligibility, qualifying deposits, bonus tiers and payout timing.
- Unlike bank account bonuses, you risk losing your invested money.
What to consider before claiming a brokerage account bonus
Before you try to take advantage of a brokerage sign-up bonus, there are a few things to keep in mind:
You must be a new customer: Cash bonuses are intended to attract new business, so if you already have an account, you’re likely ineligible. In most cases, brokerages also exclude customers who have closed an account within the past 12 months. You may still qualify if you have another product (for example, a deposit account).
You must meet the enrollment requirements: To receive a bonus, you must make a minimum deposit, keep the funds in place for a set holding period and possibly adhere to other requirements. In addition, residents of certain states may not be eligible for a specific promotion.
You could lose the bonus (and your original investment): Unlike a bank savings account, a brokerage account does not guarantee that your balance will grow. The value of your investments can rise or fall, and losses can reduce your account value. In extreme cases, some investments can lose most or all of their value.
You may choose the wrong account or brokerage: A generous bonus doesn’t necessarily mean a brokerage is the best fit for you. Look at fees, investment options, educational tools, customer support, platform usability and whether the account type matches your experience level. If you’re new to investing, for example, opening a self-directed account would be a bad fit — even with a bonus of several hundred dollars. The bonus should be one factor among many, not the main reason to choose a brokerage.
FAQs
Is a cash or stock bonus better?
Cash rewards are typically better because their value is clearly understood. When brokerages offer stocks, they typically advertise the highest potential dollar amount that stock is worth. If you read carefully, though, the chances of receiving that maximum value are less than 1%. Robinhood markets that it gives away stocks worth up to $200, for example, but it discloses that approximately 99% of customers will get stock worth $5.
How long does it take to receive a brokerage account bonus?
The length of time before you receive your brokerage bonus can vary widely. While some promise to deposit your bonus within a few weeks of completing a 90-day holding period, Betterment requires a three-year holding period to avoid an early removal fee. Review the terms and conditions before signing up for any brokerage.
Can you receive more than one brokerage account bonus?
Yes, it is possible to receive more than one brokerage account bonus, provided they’re from different firms. Usually, you can’t claim a bonus from the same brokerage more than once — some put limits on eligibility by household or address, so a spouse or family member may or may not qualify separately.
Do you need to invest your deposit in a brokerage account to receive the bonus?
You usually do not need to invest the deposited money, but you must leave the qualifying assets in the account for a specified holding period, which can be anywhere from 90 days to more than a year
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to deliver high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice to our readers, enabling them to make informed financial decisions. Every investing article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of investing products.While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content independently of our commercial team and any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on maintaining high journalistic standards and ethics.
Subscribe to the CNBC Select Newsletter!
Money matters —so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.Sign up here.
Our methodology
CNBC Select reviewed more than 24 top brokerage firms to identify those offering the best brokerage account bonuses. To evaluate each offer, we considered the bonus size and type, funding requirements, holding period, account details and any applicable restrictions.
We also evaluated each brokerage firm as a whole, considering factors such as:
- Available account types
- Minimum account requirements
- Investment options
- Trading costs
- Retirement account offerings
- Trading platform quality
- Cash sweep interest rate
- Customer service
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth coverage ofcredit cards,bankingandmoney, and follow us onTikTok,Facebook,InstagramandTwitterto stay up to date.
Read more
How to open a brokerage account
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
About The Author
