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Broker 2

VS field	CMC Markets cmcmarkets.com CFD BrokerForex BrokerCommodity CFD	Charles Schwab schwab.com Stock BrokerETF BrokerMutual Fund
Decision summary
Overall score

Trust score	87	100

Cost score	78	92

Platform score	92	94

Withdrawal score	77	89

Best for	Best suited to active traders and investors wanting a well-regulated, multi-asset platform with strong proprietary tools and broad CFD/forex coverage; publish with prominent regio…	Best suited for U.S.-centric investors and active traders who want a large, bank-affiliated multi-asset brokerage with $0 online listed stock/ETF commissions, strong platform dept…

Watch out	Needs verification	Needs verification

Trust & regulation
Regulators	CMC Markets group entities are regulated by FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, DFSA, and BMA, depending on client jurisdiction/entity. Source	SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC Source
License numbers	Known official registration/licence references include FCA 173730, FCA 948126, AFSL 238054, AFSL 246381, UEN 200605050E, BaFin 154814, DFSA f002740, Bermuda company 202302718, and CIRO/CIPF membership. Source	Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514 Source
Regulated entities	Multiple local CMC Markets entities are disclosed; client entity depends on jurisdiction and product. Source	Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB Source
Negative balance protection	Retail negative balance protection is disclosed for UK leveraged accounts and Bermuda retail clients; not available to professional clients; not applicable to cash equities. Source	Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment. Source
Investor compensation	UK eligible clients: FSCS up to £85,000. Canada: CIPF membership. Other jurisdictions reviewed disclose segregation but no comparable amount in sources checked. Source	SIPC protection up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit for brokerage account assets; futures accounts are not protected by SIPC. Source
Restricted countries	CMC states CFD services are not available to US residents; iOS app access is limited to listed permitted regions; broader availability depends on local law and entity. Source	Not all products, services, or investments are available in all countries; Schwab is not registered outside the United States and products/services may not be registered in a user's jurisdiction. Source

Trust & regulation

Regulators

CMC Markets group entities are regulated by FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, DFSA, and BMA, depending on client jurisdiction/entity.

Source

SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC

Source

License numbers

Known official registration/licence references include FCA 173730, FCA 948126, AFSL 238054, AFSL 246381, UEN 200605050E, BaFin 154814, DFSA f002740, Bermuda company 202302718, and CIRO/CIPF membership.

Source

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514

Source

Regulated entities

Multiple local CMC Markets entities are disclosed; client entity depends on jurisdiction and product.

Source

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB

Source

Negative balance protection

Retail negative balance protection is disclosed for UK leveraged accounts and Bermuda retail clients; not available to professional clients; not applicable to cash equities.

Source

Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment.

Source

Investor compensation

UK eligible clients: FSCS up to £85,000. Canada: CIPF membership. Other jurisdictions reviewed disclose segregation but no comparable amount in sources checked.

Source

SIPC protection up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit for brokerage account assets; futures accounts are not protected by SIPC.

Source

Restricted countries

CMC states CFD services are not available to US residents; iOS app access is limited to listed permitted regions; broader availability depends on local law and entity.

Source

Not all products, services, or investments are available in all countries; Schwab is not registered outside the United States and products/services may not be registered in a user's jurisdiction.

Source

Costs & account conditions
Minimum deposit	No minimum deposit for UK/international trading accounts; UK equities page states minimum deposit amount £1 for share/ETF investing. Source	$0 minimum for standard U.S. brokerage and IRA accounts; Schwab One International accounts require a minimum deposit but amount is not disclosed in checked official pages. Source
Spread from	Spreads from 0.2 points on UK spread betting/CFD account comparison; FX Active from 0.0 pips on six major FX pairs; international advertises 0.0 pips FX minimum spread. Source	Not applicable to this stock/ETF investment broker profile; no CFD/FX spread schedule identified as a core product in reviewed sources. Source
Commission	Commission varies by account/product: UK equities 0%; FX Active 0.0025% per transaction ($2.50 per $100k); share/ETF CFD commissions vary by market/account table. Source	stock_commission: $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; OTC equities $6.95; broker-assisted service charge $25; etf_commission: $0 online commission for listed U.S.-exchange ETFs; options_commission: $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per options contract; futures_commission: $2.25 per contract, per side, for futures and futures options; exchange, regulatory, overnight, NFA, and market-data fees may apply; mutual_fund_commission: $0 on thousands of Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource funds; all other mutual funds up to $74.95 per purchase; bond_commission: New-issue bonds/CDs: $0 online/selling concession included; Treasuries online $0; most other secondary bonds $1 per bond with $10 minimum and $250 maximum; forex_commission: $0 commission; forex trade costs are reflected in the bid/ask spread Source
Maximum leverage	Maximum leverage is entity/jurisdiction dependent: UK retail table shows 30:1; international page shows 1:200 maximum retail leverage; ASIC rules impose product-specific caps. Source	Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements. Source
Deposit fee	UK deposits are free from CMC; external card issuer/bank charges may apply. Other regions require review of platform/client portal or local fee schedules. Source	$0 for funds entering a standard brokerage account; banking deposit services generally no monthly/account minimum fees, but certain services can have fees Source
Withdrawal fee	UK card and standard bank transfer withdrawals: no CMC charge; international transfers may carry fees displayed on platform. Source	No fee for routine withdrawals from standard brokerage per FAQ; full outbound ACAT $50 and outgoing wire $25; Schwab Bank Investor Checking has unlimited ATM fee rebates for cash withdrawals worldwide, subject to conditions. Source
Inactivity fee	UK leveraged accounts: £10/month after one year of inactivity if funds are available; no negative balance from dormancy; equities marked N/A in account comparison. Source	$0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts Source

Costs & account conditions

Minimum deposit

No minimum deposit for UK/international trading accounts; UK equities page states minimum deposit amount £1 for share/ETF investing.

Source

$0 minimum for standard U.S. brokerage and IRA accounts; Schwab One International accounts require a minimum deposit but amount is not disclosed in checked official pages.

Source

Spread from

Spreads from 0.2 points on UK spread betting/CFD account comparison; FX Active from 0.0 pips on six major FX pairs; international advertises 0.0 pips FX minimum spread.

Source

Not applicable to this stock/ETF investment broker profile; no CFD/FX spread schedule identified as a core product in reviewed sources.

Source

Commission

Commission varies by account/product: UK equities 0%; FX Active 0.0025% per transaction ($2.50 per $100k); share/ETF CFD commissions vary by market/account table.

Source

stock_commission: $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; OTC equities $6.95; broker-assisted service charge $25; etf_commission: $0 online commission for listed U.S.-exchange ETFs; options_commission: $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per options contract; futures_commission: $2.25 per contract, per side, for futures and futures options; exchange, regulatory, overnight, NFA, and market-data fees may apply; mutual_fund_commission: $0 on thousands of Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource funds; all other mutual funds up to $74.95 per purchase; bond_commission: New-issue bonds/CDs: $0 online/selling concession included; Treasuries online $0; most other secondary bonds $1 per bond with $10 minimum and $250 maximum; forex_commission: $0 commission; forex trade costs are reflected in the bid/ask spread

Source

Maximum leverage

Maximum leverage is entity/jurisdiction dependent: UK retail table shows 30:1; international page shows 1:200 maximum retail leverage; ASIC rules impose product-specific caps.

Source

Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements.

Source

Deposit fee

UK deposits are free from CMC; external card issuer/bank charges may apply. Other regions require review of platform/client portal or local fee schedules.

Source

$0 for funds entering a standard brokerage account; banking deposit services generally no monthly/account minimum fees, but certain services can have fees

Source

Withdrawal fee

UK card and standard bank transfer withdrawals: no CMC charge; international transfers may carry fees displayed on platform.

Source

No fee for routine withdrawals from standard brokerage per FAQ; full outbound ACAT $50 and outgoing wire $25; Schwab Bank Investor Checking has unlimited ATM fee rebates for cash withdrawals worldwide, subject to conditions.

Source

Inactivity fee

UK leveraged accounts: £10/month after one year of inactivity if funds are available; no negative balance from dormancy; equities marked N/A in account comparison.

Source

$0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts

Source

Markets, platforms & payments
Tradable assets	Tradable universe includes forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, rates/bonds/treasuries, options and some crypto CFDs, with counts varying by jurisdiction and platform. Source	Stocks; fractional shares; ETFs; mutual funds; bonds/CDs/fixed income; money market funds; options; futures; futures options; forex; international stocks/ADRs/foreign ordinaries; cash products; annuities; alternatives; crypto ETPs/securities/futures. Source
Trading platforms	CMC proprietary web/mobile platforms, MT4, MT5 (international/Canada), and TradingView integration; exact availability varies by region/account. Source	Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney Source
Account types	Official account types include equities, CFD trading, options, FX Active, spread betting, corporate CFD, and CMC Invest plans depending on jurisdiction. Source	Individual Brokerage; Joint Brokerage; Schwab One Brokerage; Investor Checking-linked brokerage; Futures Account; Global Account; IRAs; custodial, education, trust, estate, organization, and business retirement accounts; Schwab Intelligent Portfolios. Source
Deposit methods	Deposit methods vary by region: UK card/online banking/bank transfer; international card/bank transfer/crypto via Binance Pay/Neteller/Skrill; Canada CAD/USD credit card and wire transfer. Source	ACH/electronic transfer/MoneyLink; wire transfer; check/mail check; Schwab Mobile Deposit for checking; direct deposit for checking; account transfer/ACAT; branch/in-person deposit where available. Source
Withdrawal methods	UK withdrawals by card or bank transfer; international page advertises nominated bank account, card, cryptocurrency or digital wallet; third-party payments rejected/not supported. Source	Transfer to linked bank/checking; wire transfer; check; ATM/debit card for Schwab Bank Investor Checking; ACAT outbound account transfer. Source
Withdrawal processing time	UK: same-day internal processing before cut-off for registered bank details; card issuer timing within an hour to five working days; domestic bank 1-2 working days; international bank 3-5 working days. Source	Cash moved from brokerage to linked Investor Checking is generally available in seconds, but weekend/after-hours transfers may not be available until the next business day; other withdrawal methods vary/not fully disclosed on checked pages. Source

Markets, platforms & payments

Tradable assets

Tradable universe includes forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, rates/bonds/treasuries, options and some crypto CFDs, with counts varying by jurisdiction and platform.

Source

Stocks; fractional shares; ETFs; mutual funds; bonds/CDs/fixed income; money market funds; options; futures; futures options; forex; international stocks/ADRs/foreign ordinaries; cash products; annuities; alternatives; crypto ETPs/securities/futures.

Source

Trading platforms

CMC proprietary web/mobile platforms, MT4, MT5 (international/Canada), and TradingView integration; exact availability varies by region/account.

Source

Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney

Source

Account types

Official account types include equities, CFD trading, options, FX Active, spread betting, corporate CFD, and CMC Invest plans depending on jurisdiction.

Source

Individual Brokerage; Joint Brokerage; Schwab One Brokerage; Investor Checking-linked brokerage; Futures Account; Global Account; IRAs; custodial, education, trust, estate, organization, and business retirement accounts; Schwab Intelligent Portfolios.

Source

Deposit methods

Deposit methods vary by region: UK card/online banking/bank transfer; international card/bank transfer/crypto via Binance Pay/Neteller/Skrill; Canada CAD/USD credit card and wire transfer.

Source

ACH/electronic transfer/MoneyLink; wire transfer; check/mail check; Schwab Mobile Deposit for checking; direct deposit for checking; account transfer/ACAT; branch/in-person deposit where available.

Source

Withdrawal methods

UK withdrawals by card or bank transfer; international page advertises nominated bank account, card, cryptocurrency or digital wallet; third-party payments rejected/not supported.

Source

Transfer to linked bank/checking; wire transfer; check; ATM/debit card for Schwab Bank Investor Checking; ACAT outbound account transfer.

Source

Withdrawal processing time

UK: same-day internal processing before cut-off for registered bank details; card issuer timing within an hour to five working days; domestic bank 1-2 working days; international bank 3-5 working days.

Source

Cash moved from brokerage to linked Investor Checking is generally available in seconds, but weekend/after-hours transfers may not be available until the next business day; other withdrawal methods vary/not fully disclosed on checked pages.

Source

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