The Starter Investor Reviews Online Brokers for 2023
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Updated March 25, 2023
What are the online brokers with the lowest minimum requirement to open an online stock trading account in the Philippines?
Based on our analysis, we have compiled a list of our Top 11 Picks:
We conducted a thorough review of all 34 online brokers listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Trading Participants Online Brokers and Directory, with the aim of identifying the most suitable online broker for novice traders with limited funds. Our selection criteria included the minimum amount required to open an online stock trading account, available funding methods, and the user-friendliness of the platform. Our top picks are online brokers that meet the following requirements:
- Require a minimum investment of Php 15,000.00 or less, as stated in their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section on their website.
- Offer funding methods such as GCash and Maya mobile app, bills payment, and online banking.
- Provide user-friendly online stock trading platforms.
#1. BDO Securities
https://www.bdo.com.ph/securities/home
- A BDO Securities account without any cash flows (either deposits or withdrawals) for two (2) years will be placed on the inactive list. You can prevent account dormancy by making either a deposit or withdrawal on your account at least once every two (2) years.
- Funding the online trading account:
- For instructions, the company website provided this link: https://youtu.be/qNkdn6S5m1Y
#2. BPI Trade
https://www.bpitrade.com/
- Funding the online trading account:
- Before you can purchase any shares of stock, you must first deposit funds into your BPI Trade Settlement Account (SETA). Your SETA will be debited or credited depending on the amount of your transaction/s. It is important to note that your SETA requires an Average Daily Balance (ADB) of Php 500.00 (visit www.bpi.com.ph for details).
#3. RCBC Securities, Inc.
https://www.rcbcsec.com/
- There is no minimum deposit required to open an account according to the company's FAQs.
- Funding the online trading account:
- You have 3 options to fund your account:
- RCBC Online
- RCBC Branch
- RCBC Telemoney
#4. COL Financial Group, Inc.
- Funding the online trading account:
- You can fund your COL Account through any of the following options:
- Option 1: Online Banking via Bills Payment
- Use your online banking facility to fund your COL account. Just enroll COL FINANCIAL under your bills payment then pay that bill.
- Option 2: Over-the-Counter via Bills Payment
- Visit any of the company's partner bank branches and fill-out a payment slip. Forms of payment can be in cash or check. Check should be payable to COL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
- Banco de Oro (BDO)
- Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
- Metrobank
- Asia United Bank (AUB)
- Robinsons Bank
- Unionbank
- PNB
#5. A&A Securities, Inc.
https://aa.psetradex.ph/
- A & A have no minimum investment to open an account. Before any purchase may be made, the account must have enough cleared funds to cover the total value of the intended purchase order of stocks, inclusive of all charges.
- Funding the online trading account:
- Direct deposit to A&A’s Banco De Oro bank account
- Deliver check payment to the A&A’s office
- Clients based outside the Philippines may wire their funds to A&A's Security Bank account
#6. UCPB Securities, Inc.
https://www.ucpbsec.com/
- Funding the online trading account:
- You can deposit funds to its UCPB bank account through the following:
- Over-the-Counter Deposit
- UCPB Connect
- InstaPay
#7. Philstocks Financial, Inc.
https://www.philstocks.ph/
- Funding the online trading account:
- Over-the-counter cash or check deposit to their BDO, BPI and Chinabank accounts
- Fund Transfer to their BDO, BPI and Chinabank accounts
- Bills Payment Via BDO, BPI, Metrobank, UnionBank
- Other funding options: Remittance
#8. Wealth Securities, Inc.
https://www.wealthsec.net/login.asp
- The maintaining balance of the account is the minimum deposit of P10,000.00. No withdrawals of cash should be made to decrease the balance. However, if by reason of purchases from the minimum deposit, the market value of the stock is less than P10,000.00 and no withdrawals of cash there from has been made, the required maintaining balance is still complied with. Failure to maintain the balance will prompt us to prevent access to your account.
- Funding the online trading account:
- You can make a deposit for the account of Wealth Securities, Inc. in any of the following banks:
- Union Bank
- East West Bank
- BDO
- RCBC Commercial Bank
- BPI
- Metrobank
- Asia United Bank
- Security Bank
#9. VC Securities Corporation
https://vcsecurities.biz/
- Funding the online trading account:
- All clients must be BDO account holders.
- Walk-in funding through its business centre located at the 6th floor Wilson Corporate Center, 225 Wilson St., Greenhills, San Juan
- Deposit through its BDO bank account
#10. Unicapital Securities, Inc.
https://utradeph.com/
- Funding the online trading account:
- You can fund your UTrade account via Over-the-Counter Deposit or Online Banking Payments at any of the banks listed below:
- Over-the-Counter Deposit: At any branch of BDO, BPI or Chinabank.
- Online Payment: You can also fund your account via an Online Transfer or ATM Funding.
#11. AP Securities, Incorporated
https://apsecuritiesinc.com.ph/
- Minimum opening amount for New APS Online Account is Php 15,000.00.
- Funding the online trading account:
- Via cheque deposit to the company's office.
- Cheque for pick up
- Deposit or transfer online to any of their bank accounts:
- Metrobank
- BDO
- Security Bank
- RCBC
- PNB
- Bank of Commerce
- For remittances
- Bank: BDO
EXPANDED LIST OF ONLINE BROKERS FOR STOCK TRADERS IN THE PHILIPPINES
We have included a list of additional online brokers that did not meet our selection criteria, which may be suitable for traders with more substantial capital. As novice traders grow and gain more experience, they may eventually become eligible to use the services of these brokers as well.
AAA Southeast Equities, Inc.
https://aaa-equities.com.ph/
- You may fund your account through any of its 3 partner banks:
- BDO
- Metrobank
- Unionbank
- BPI
AB Capital Securities, Inc.
https://www.abcapitalonline.com/
- No minimum investment is required based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
Abacus Securities Corporation
https://www.mytrade.com.ph/
- The minimum investment required is Php 100,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
Alpha Securities Corporation
https://alpha.psetradex.ph/
- The minimum investment required is Php 5,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
BA Securities, Inc.
https://baseconline.psetradex.ph/
- The minimum investment required is Php 5,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
Coherco Securities, Inc.
https://cohercotrade.psetradex.ph/
- You may deposit funds at either of our bank accounts at BDO or East West Banking Corporation.
China Bank Securities Corporation
https://www.chinabankseconline.ph/
- China Bank depositors who open an online trading account and designate their China Bank deposit account as their settlement account are not required to put up an initial deposit.
- However, those who will nominate a deposit account with another bank are required to put up a minimum initial deposit of Php 50,000.00 which can be used to buy stocks, according to the company's Frequently Asked Question.
- Funding the online trading account:
- Option 1: Bills Payment Via China Bank Online Banking.
- Option 2: Over-the-counter Bills Payment in any China Bank branch
Eagle Equities, Inc.
https://eagleconnect.psetradex.ph/
- The minimum investment required is Php 20,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
Eastern Securities Development Corporation
https://eastern-sec.com/
- The minimum investment required is Php 5,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
DA Market Securities Inc.
https://www.itrade.ph/
- The minimum investment required is Php 50,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
Globalinks Securities & Stocks, Inc.
https://gtrade.ph/
- GLOBALINKS only requires you to initially deposit Php 20,000.00 in opening your account.
- Funding the online trading account:
- Over-the-Counter Deposit
- Over-the-Counter Bills Payment
- Online Bills Payment
- Online Fund Transfer
HDI Securities, Inc.
https://hdisecurities.com/
- To open an account, an initial investment of at least P25,000.00 is required.
- Funding the online trading account:
- Bank Deposit to their BDO account
- Deposit your check at their office
- Wire funds to their BDO bank account
First Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation
https://www.firstmetrosec.ph/
- There is no minimum investment required based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
Investors Securities, Inc.
https://www.investorsonline.ph/
- The minimum investment required is Php 50,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
Lucky Securities, Inc.
https://luckyseconline.psetradex.ph/
- The minimum investment required is Php 5,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated. It's important to mention that their services are limited to Institutional clients only.
Jaka Securities Corporation
https://jakaseconline.psetradex.ph/
- The minimum investment required is Php 25,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated. Their services are limited to Institutional clients only.
Mercantile Securities
https://www.mercantilesec.com/
- The minimum investment required is Php 5,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated. Their services are limited to Institutional clients only.
Meridian Securities, Inc.
https://msitradeonline.psetradex.ph/
- Minimum Initial Deposit is Php 25,000.00.
- Funding the online trading account:
- Clients have to make a deposit at the company's Bank: BDO account.
Maybank Trade
https://maybanktrade.psetradex.ph/
Optimum Securities Corporation
https://optimumonline.psetradex.ph/
- Minimum investment required to open an account is an initial deposit of Php 25,000.00.
- Funding the online trading account:
- You can deposit (Cash or Checks) through Over-the-Counter payment at any branch of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation branch nearest you.
Triton Securities Corporation
https://triton.psetradex.ph/
- The minimum investment required is Php 10,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
Timson Securities, Inc.
https://timson.com.ph/
- The minimum initial deposit to open an account is Php 100,000.00.
- Funding the online trading account:
- You can deposit funds to your Timson Trade account via the Merchant Payment facility of its partner banks:
- BDO
- BPI
- Metrobank
Regina Capital Development Corporation
https://www.reginacapital.com/portal/
- The minimum investment required is Php 25,000.00 based on the information available in the PSE Directory of Trading Participants. However, the minimum amount needed to open an account is not posted on the company's website and thus cannot be validated.
In conclusion, choosing the right online broker is crucial for novice traders with limited funds, as it can greatly impact their investment journey. Our thorough review of 34 brokers listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Trading Participants Online Brokers and Directory has helped identify the top picks that meet our selection criteria of minimum investment, funding methods, and user-friendliness. We hope that our list will serve as a valuable guide for traders starting in the stock market. Remember to always do your research and invest wisely. Happy trading!
Helpful Articles and Websites
You may also find the following websites and articles helpful:
Stock Trading Websites
The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. website
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