Brokerage bonuses can look impressive on the surface, but the headline number rarely tells the whole story. Many of the largest offers require high deposits or long holding periods, which can dramatically lower their true value.
That's why I update this list at the start of every month and rank the latest brokerage promotions by effective ROI. This is the actual return you earn on your deposit once the bonus is credited and available as cash. All calculations are done using my bonus ROI calculator, so you can double-check the numbers or run the math on any new promotion that comes up.
This list doesn't judge the overall quality of each brokerage or whether an account fits your long-term investing goals. It's designed for readers who want to maximize the short-term ROI of cash.
How I calculate effective ROI:
- Multiple tiers. If there are tiers, I highlight the one with the highest ROI (for example, $50 on $500 vs. $100 on $10,000).
- Formula. Annualized return based on the bonus amount, deposit requirement, and holding period.
- Holding period. I use the full time funds must remain in the account to keep the bonus, not just when the bonus is paid. If you withdraw early, brokers can claw back the bonus.
- Interest rates. I don't factor in any interest the broker might pay, since rates change often. If you're depsoting a larger sum, you may want to weight this more heavily.
Current Brokerage Bonuses Ranked by Effective ROI
| Broker | Details | Effective ROI |
| Webull | Deposit $2,000 to earn $100 in 40 days, plus 2% paid in installments over 24 months. | 56.08% |
| Tradestation | Deposit $500 to earn $50, withdrawable after 270 days. | 13.75% |
| Public | Transfer $5,000 to earn $150, paid after 30 days with a 6-month holding period. | 6.18 |
| E*TRADE | Deposit $1,000 to earn $50, funds must remain in account for ~14 months. | 5% |
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Deposit $5,000 to earn $50, withdrawable after ~105 days. | 3.52% |
| Citi Self Invest | Deposit $10,000+ in new funds to Citi Self Invest and earn a $100–$500 cash bonus, paid about 4–6 months after funding once the holding requirements are met. | 3.07% |
| M1 | Deposit $10,000+, earn $75 credited within ~60 days, with bonus funds required to remain in the account for 90 days. | 2.30% |
| Charles Schwab | Deposit $25,000+, earn $100–$1,000 credited ~52 days after funding, funds must remain in the account for 12 months. | 0.40% |
| Robinhood | Earn a 1% match on all IRA contributions, transfers, and rollovers (3% with Robinhood Gold, $5/month). Match is paid instantly, but you must keep Gold for 1 year and the IRA funded for 5 years. | ROI varies by deposit size, could be a great deal |
Best Brokerage Account Bonuses
#1. Webull
Webull's current promotion is a little different from most brokerage bonuses. Instead of one upfront cash credit, it combines several smaller rewards with a larger cash bonus that is spread out over two years.
Here's what's included:
- $100 cash bonus if you deposit at least $2,000 (this is what I used to determine effective ROI)
- APY Booster Card that pays 4% APY on up to $10,000 in cash for 30 days. (not included in calculation)
- 2% cash bonus on your net qualifying funding amount, capped at $20,000, paid in 24 equal monthly installments.
To qualify, you need to:
- Enroll through the Webull offer page during the promotion period (July 2, 2025 – October 30, 2025).
- Deposit or transfer at least $2,000 in new funds from an external account.
- Maintain your deposit for the full duration of the payout schedule. If you withdraw before the final installment, Webull may reduce or claw back the remaining bonus.
When you get paid:
- The $100 cash and APY Booster are issued within 10 business days after the promotion ends, and must be claimed within 30 days.
- The 2% cash bonus begins paying 45 days after the promotion ends and continues in monthly installments for 24 months. Each installment must also remain in your account until the end of the program.
In short, Webull's promotion offers both short-term and long-term value.
You'll receive the $100 cash and the APY booster soon after just 40 days, but the bigger 2% bonus is spread across 24 months. That means this bonus can work well if you want an immediate reward, but it's best suited for those willing to keep funds committed for roughly two years to capture the full payout.
To learn more about the platform, read our Webull review.
View all Webull's current offers.
Visit Webull.
#2. TradeStation
TradeStation is the go-to brokerage for many active investors due to its powerful trading platform, commission-free stock trades, and diversified list of tradable assets.
Their current promotion allows new customers to earn a one-time cash reward based on the amount of their initial deposit. To claim the bonus, you must enter the promo code FNMZAGAO during the sign-up process.
| Cash Reward | Qualifying Assets |
| $50 | $500 |
| $250 | $25,000 |
| $400 | $100,000 |
| $800 | $200,000 |
| $3,000 | $1,000,000 |
| $5,000 | $2,000,000 |
The cash reward will be deposited into your account the month following a 270-day holding period.
The offer is only available for Entity (non-institutional), Individual, or Joint equities and futures accounts.
IRAs and other tax-qualified accounts are not eligible. Additionally, the assets must be new to TradeStation, and any withdrawals or redeposits during the holding period will disqualify the account.
#3. Public
Public is one of my favorite commission-free trading platforms. It offers fractional share investing with no monthly fees, and its design is beginner-friendly.
Public's current promotion offers up to $10,000 in bonus funds for transferring an existing brokerage account to the platform, making the offer one of the best for high-net-worth investors.
| Transfer Amount | Bonus |
| $5,000 – $24,999 | $150 |
| $25,000 – $99,999 | $250 |
| $100,000 – $249,999 | $1,000 |
| $250,000 – $499,999 | $2,500 |
| $500,000 – $999,999 | $5,000 |
| $1 million or more | $10,000 |
Here's how it breaks down:
- This is a transfer-only bonus — cash deposits don't qualify.
- Public reimburses up to $100 in transfer fees from your old broker.
- The bonus is credited 30 days after your transfer completes.
- You must keep your transferred funds in your account for at least six months or the bonus may be revoked.
Visit Public or learn more in our Public Investing review.
#4. E*TRADE
E*TRADE, now part of Morgan Stanley, is a leading online broker known for its user-friendly platform, robust research, and wide range of investment options.
For a limited time, E*TRADE is offering a cash bonus of up to $10,000 when you open and fund a new eligible brokerage account.
E*TRADE credits smaller deposits within 7 business days and larger deposits partly up front and partly after 60 days. However, the terms require you to keep your qualifying deposit in the account for 12 months after the 60-day funding window.
For that reason, I calculate the effective ROI over a 12-month period, since that is the minimum time your funds must remain in the account to avoid forfeiting the bonus.
| Deposit Amount | Cash Bonus |
| $1,000 – $4,999 | $50 |
| $5,000 – $19,999 | $150 |
| $20,000 – $99,999 | $300 |
| $100,000 – $199,999 | $600 |
| $200,000 – $499,999 | $800 |
| $500,000 – $999,999 | $1,000 |
| $1,000,000 – $1,499,999 | $3,000 |
| $1,500,000 – $1,999,999 | $5,000 |
| $2,000,000 – $4,999,999 | $6,000 |
| $5,000,000+ | $10,000 |
To qualify:
- Open a new eligible E*TRADE brokerage account by October 31, 2025.
- Enter promo code OFFER25 during account opening (valid once per customer).
- Fund your account with at least $1,000 in new funds or securities from an external account within 60 days of opening.
- Your cash bonus will be credited after the 60-day funding period.
This offer is valid for non-retirement brokerage accounts only and is limited to one bonus per customer.
Visit E*TRADE to learn more.
#5. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed
J.P. Morgan is offering a cash bonus of up to $700 for new customers who open and fund a Self-Directed Investing account by October 21, 2025.
| Deposit amount | Bonus |
| $5,000 – $24,999 | $50 |
| $25,000 – $99,999 | $150 |
| $100,000 – $249,999 | $325 |
| $250,000+ | $700 |
To qualify:
- Open a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account through the designated offer page by October 21, 2025.
- Transfer or roll over at least $5,000 in new money within 45 days of coupon enrollment. (Assets from J.P. Morgan or Chase accounts do not qualify.)
- At day 45, your bonus tier will be determined based on your qualifying balance.
- Maintain the required balance for 90 days after enrollment.
- Your cash bonus will be credited within 15 days of meeting the requirements.
This offer applies to general investment, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and trust accounts. You may only receive one bonus per customer in a 12-month period. To receive the reward, your account must remain open and unrestricted at the time of payout.
#6. Citi Self Invest
Citi Self Invest is Citigroup's low-cost, commission-free brokerage platform for self-directed investors. It's separate from Citi Personal Wealth Management, which provides dedicated advisory services.
Citi Self Invest is currently offering a cash bonus of up to $500 when you fund your account with new-to-Citi money:
| Initial Deposit | Bonus |
| $10,000 to $49,999 | $100 |
| $50,000 to $199,999 | $200 |
| $200,000 or more | $500 |
Key details:
- Limit of one bonus per customer. If multiple accounts are funded, Citi will apply the offer to the account with the highest balance.
- Funds must be new-to-Citi (not transfers from existing Citi accounts).
- You must deposit at least $10,000 within your funding period and stay enrolled in eDelivery.
- Funds must remain in the account through the Maintain Funds Period (roughly 90 days).
- Even if you fund on day 1, the bonus won't be paid until within 90 days after the Maintain Funds Period ends, so realistically you may wait 4–6 months to receive it.
#7. M1
M1 is actually my top broker — it's where I hold my IRA. What I like most is their done-for-you, automated portfolios that mimic what robo-advisors offer, but with zero management fees. At the same time, you can customize your own portfolio with stocks, ETFs, and even crypto if you want more control.
You can learn more in my M1 review.
Right now, new customers who join through a referral link can earn a $75 cash bonus.
How it works:
- Open a new M1 brokerage or retirement account using a referral link.
- Fund the account with at least $10,000 within 30 days of signup.
- Keep the funds in the account for at least 30 days after funding.
- Your $75 bonus is credited to your Payment Account within about 14 business days.
- Bonus funds must remain in the account for an additional 90 days after posting.
This promotion is available to new M1 customers only.
Visit M1 to learn more.
#8. Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab is a popular low-cost brokerage known for its selection of mutual funds, outstanding research tools, and solid customer service.
Schwab's referral bonus requires you to sign up using a referral link from an existing Schwab customer.
The tiered structure looks like this:
| Initial Deposit | Bonus |
| $25,000 to $49,999 | $100 |
| $50,000 to $99,999.99 | $300 |
| $100,000 to $499,999.99 | $500 |
| $500,000 or more | $1,000 |
To qualify, new clients must:
- Open an eligible Schwab brokerage account with a referral link.
- Fund the account within 45 days of enrollment.
- For taxable accounts, Schwab requires you to maintain the qualifying deposit (minus any market losses) for at least 12 months after the 45-day period, or it may revoke the bonus.
- The bonus is credited about a week after the 45-day funding window closes.
#9. Robinhood
Robinhood's IRA match stands out because it gives you an instant 3% boost on IRA transfers or rollovers if you subscribe to Robinhood Gold ($5/month). Non-Gold members earn a 1% match. The match is paid as soon as funds settle, but you need to keep Gold for at least a year and the IRA funded for 5 years to avoid a clawback.
If you're planning to stick with Robinhood long-term and don't trade much, this can be a very solid deal — especially on large transfers. A $100,000 rollover, for example, nets you an extra $3,000 right away. That's not something you'll find at other brokerages.
The effective ROI looks modest when annualized (around 1%–3%), but in practice it's a guaranteed, no-hoops boost on retirement funds you were going to invest anyway. For buy-and-hold investors, that's hard to beat.
For more analysis, read Robinhood's IRA Match: Is It a Good Deal?
If you're not moving large sums, a number of brokers offer free stock promotions. The value is usually lower (often under $10 per stock), but they can still be a good way to get started.
I track these separately — see my full list of free stock promotions — but here's the effective ROI compared to deposit requirements:
| Company | Offer | Effective ROI |
| Robinhood | Get $5 to $200 in free stock (most users receive $5–$10). No deposit required. | Can cash out within ~32 days. Effective ROI: Infinite (but expect around $5). |
| Stash | $30 in stock with a 1¢ deposit | Must keep subscription for 90 days. Net gain ≈ $21 after $9 in fees. ROI: Infinite (tiny deposit), but expect $21 profit. |
| moomoo | Deposit $100–$50,000 to get $20–$1,000 in NVDA stock (locked 60 days). | Cash available after ~65 days. ROI varies by tier — highest ROI is the $100 deposit for $20 in stock (≈73% annualized). |
| TradeUP | Use promo code “wealth.” Get 1 free NVDA share ($1,000 deposit required) + 2–5 additional free stocks (most worth $10–$20 each). | Roughly 243% ROI on lowest tier |
These aren't guaranteed values the way cash offers are, but they're worth claiming if you're opening an account anyway.
Best Broker Account Cash Sign Up Bonus FAQs
Cash received from a brokerage promotion is taxable income. It is generally treated the same as interest income. However, some brokerages only issue a 1099 when earnings are over $600. If that's the case, the income is still taxable.
Money deposited into a traditional IRA is not immediately taxable but does count towards your total contribution for the year. You'll pay tax upon withdrawal. Money paid into a Roth IRA isn't taxable income.
It depends on the type of assets you're selling. If you're selling stocks, bonds and other securities in your taxable account, the sale is considered a taxable event. In this case, the earnings from the sale would be treated as capital gains and taxed accordingly.
To avoid this, aim to transfer the existing assets in your account without selling first. For example, if you hold Amazon stock, you can just transfer it to a new brokerage instead of selling it and moving the cash.
It depends on how much money you're depositing. If you're depositing $1 million or more, Public gives you a $10,000 cash bonus.
