Brokerages

Brokerage transfer bonuses are tiered by deposit or transfer amount and typically require assets to stay in the account for 60–180 days. Most bonuses are taxable as ordinary income in the year received. If transferring an existing portfolio, confirm the ACAT process timeline and any partial transfer limitations. IRA bonuses may have specific contribution vs. transfer rules.

Current featured offer

E*TRADE

New Account Bonus — Up to $5,000

Current Pick

Promotional value

$50–$5,000 Cash Bonus

Open a new E*TRADE brokerage account and fund it within 60 days using promo code OFFER26. Bonus scales with deposit: $50 for $1K+, $200 for $25K+, $600 for $100K+, up to $5,000 for $1.5M+. Bonus posts within 7 business days of the 60-day window.

To qualify

Open new E*TRADE brokerage account
Fund with $1,000+ within 60 days
Use promo code: OFFER26

Bonus Tiers

$50 (1K) → $5,000 (1.5M+)

Min Deposit

$1,000

Hold Period

60 days to fund; 6 months to retain bonus

Updated May 2026

cash bonustiered rewardpromo code: OFFER26

Open Account

Verify terms with provider before applying

More brokerages offers

J.P. Morgan

Jul 20

Self-Directed Investing — Up to $1,000

$50–$1,000 Cash Bonus

Open by July 21, 2026 and transfer $5,000+ from a non-Chase/J.P. Morgan account. Hold assets for 90 days. Bonus scales: $50 for $5K+, $325 for $50K+, $1,000 for $250K+. Directly integrated with Chase banking.

Bonus Tiers: $50 (5K) → $1,000 (250K+)Min Deposit: $5,000Hold Period: 90 days

cash bonustiered rewardChase integration

View Offer

Charles Schwab

Referral Bonus — Up to $1,000

Up to $1,000 Cash via Referral

Use a referral link from an existing Schwab customer and open an eligible account to earn up to $1,000 in bonus cash. Amount depends on funded amount. Schwab offers commission-free trading, extensive research tools, and no account minimums.

Bonus Tiers: Varies by funded amountMin Deposit: VariesHold Period: Varies

referralcash bonusno account minimum

View Offer

Webull

Jun 29

IRA Match — Up to 3.5%

Up to 3.5% IRA Contribution Match

Premium subscribers earn 3.5% match on new IRA contributions (up to the $7,000 2026 limit = up to $245 bonus). Standard accounts earn 1% match. Match vests immediately. Suitable for investors who want a match on new IRA contributions.

Bonus Tiers: 1% standard / 3.5% premiumMin Deposit: Any IRA contributionHold Period: None specified

IRA matchretirementimmediate vesting

View Offer

What to check before applying

Confirm whether the bonus applies to new deposits, transfers, or both
Check the hold period — assets sold or transferred out forfeit the bonus
Note that cash bonuses from brokerages are typically taxable income
Verify SIPC protection ($500K per customer) applies
For IRA rollovers, confirm direct vs. indirect rollover rules to avoid tax events

Frequently asked questions

What brokerage has the best sign-up bonus right now?

E*TRADE currently offers up to $5,000 cash (tiered by deposit amount, using promo code OFFER26). J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers bonuses on qualifying ACAT transfers. Webull provides free fractional shares. Bonus tiers scale with deposit size — the highest tiers require $100,000+ in new assets. All bonuses require holding assets for 60–180 days.

Are brokerage sign-up bonuses taxable?

Yes. Cash bonuses from brokerage promotions are treated as ordinary income and are typically reported on a 1099-MISC or 1099-INT in the year received, regardless of whether you withdraw the funds. Free stock bonuses are taxed at the fair market value when received. Factor in your marginal tax rate when calculating the net value of a bonus offer.

How does an ACAT transfer work for brokerage bonuses?

An ACAT (Automated Customer Account Transfer) moves your securities in-kind from one broker to another without selling them, avoiding capital gains taxes. The process typically takes 3–7 business days. The receiving broker usually covers transfer fees charged by the sending broker (up to $75–150). Most brokerage bonuses count ACAT transfers toward the qualifying deposit threshold.