DEGIRO review 2026: Execution-only access to stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, and crypto
DEGIRO is an Amsterdam-based execution-only multi-asset broker that began as an institutional broker in 2008. Operating through flatexDEGIRO Bank SE under BaFin supervision, with Dutch oversight from AFM and DNB, it uses a proprietary web and mobile platform with Basic and legacy margin profiles. It serves retail investors across stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, options, futures, commodities, and crypto, with no standalone retail spot-forex offering.
What is DEGIRO?
DEGIRO is an execution-only broker, meaning it executes client orders without providing personal investment advice. The brand began in 2008 in Amsterdam and became part of flatexDEGIRO after the group acquired the Dutch broker in 2020. DEGIRO now operates through flatexDEGIRO Bank Dutch Branch, which is a branch of German banking entity flatexDEGIRO Bank SE. The wider listed group reports more than 3.6 million customer accounts across 16 European countries.
The business model is centered on stocks, exchange-traded funds, bonds, funds, options and futures rather than retail spot forex. DEGIRO's official product information does not list a standalone spot-forex account. Currency conversion exists mainly to settle investments denominated in foreign currencies. This distinction matters because conventional forex metrics such as retail leverage, forex spreads and MetaTrader availability do not apply in the usual way.
Which regulators license DEGIRO?
DEGIRO operates through a regulated German bank with additional Dutch branch supervision. BaFin (German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) supervises flatexDEGIRO Bank SE, with its register entry listed under 119766. AFM (Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets) lists flatexDEGIRO Bank SE under licence number 12048408. DNB (De Nederlandsche Bank) lists the Dutch branch under relation number R182877.
The Dutch public records remained current on September 18, 2026. DNB identifies the trade name as flatexDEGIRO Bank Dutch Branch and the statutory seat as Frankfurt am Main. DNB also records the branch's European passport for investment services, securities, derivatives and foreign-exchange services connected with investment activity. The branch receives integrity supervision from DNB, while its home-state banking supervision remains in Germany.
Client cash receives protection through the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to €100,000 per eligible customer. Client investments are held through a separate custodian structure rather than as ordinary assets of the broker. The German Investor Compensation Scheme can cover 90% of qualifying non-returned assets, capped at €20,000. These protections do not cover ordinary investment losses caused by market movements.
Trading platforms
Trading platforms consist of DEGIRO's own WebTrader interface and native mobile application. The broker does not support MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 (MT4 / MT5), cTrader or another retail forex platform. It also does not provide an application programming interface (API) for linking an account to external trading software. The official help centre confirms that an API is currently unavailable.
A demo account is also unavailable. DEGIRO states that customers can open an account without an account-opening charge instead of using simulated trading access. This setup suits the firm's securities-focused model but differs from retail forex brokers that commonly provide demo terminals, automated trading and Expert Advisor support. The absence of MT4, MT5 and API connectivity is therefore a material limitation for forex-oriented users.
DEGIRO red flags and warning signs
DEGIRO red flags are regulatory-history and product-fit issues rather than an absence of licensing. BaFin imposed a €1.05 million fine on flatexDEGIRO Bank AG in February 2023 for breaches of banking supervisory requirements (source: BaFin, February 24, 2023). BaFin also imposed measures concerning additional own funds and appointed a special commissioner to monitor remediation. Those measures became final and binding in February 2023.
BaFin later imposed two administrative fines totaling €560,000 in December 2025 over advertising of investment services as free without clearly disclosing a regular processing fee (source: BaFin, December 2025). The bank had adjusted the relevant practices during 2022. These enforcement events do not remove the bank's regulatory status. They remain part of the compliance record that should be separated from claims that the broker is unlicensed.
- No standalone retail spot forex in the current product lineup.
- No MT4, MT5, cTrader or API for forex-style automated workflows.
- Margin access is restricted to qualifying legacy account profiles.
- Legacy margin profiles can produce losses exceeding deposited cash.
- BaFin enforcement includes fines recorded in 2023 and 2025.
Minimum deposit
Minimum deposit is effectively €0.01 for the bank-account verification transfer recorded in DEGIRO's official funding instructions. The broker does not impose a conventional forex-style minimum trading deposit such as €100 or €500. A linked bank account must belong to the account holder. DEGIRO states that the verification transfer can take up to three working days to process.
Deposits and withdrawals rely primarily on bank transfers. The published fee schedule lists deposits and withdrawals at €0 in broker charges. External banks can still apply their own transfer costs. The €0.01 figure therefore functions as a verification and initial-funding amount rather than a minimum balance required for a leveraged forex account.
Is the broker on any regulator warning lists?
Regulator warning-list status is different from a regulatory enforcement action against an authorised institution. The current research scan found no DEGIRO entry on the major unauthorised-firm warning lists reviewed for this article. The FCA (UK Financial Conduct Authority) does state that flatexDEGIRO Bank SE is not itself FCA-authorised in the United Kingdom. That statement reflects its overseas regulatory structure rather than a warning-list designation.
The relevant public records instead show German banking supervision and Dutch branch registration. AFM licence number 12048408 and DNB relation number R182877 were visible in the respective Dutch registers on September 18, 2026. The BaFin fines should not be confused with a revoked licence or an unauthorised-firm alert. FXSharp found no active revocation.
What do user complaints say?
User complaints form a mixed signal rather than a regulatory finding. The Dutch-market user aggregate stood at 4.4/5 from 5,790 reviews on September 18, 2026. The distribution showed 57% five-star reviews and 18% one-star reviews. Recent positive themes focused on interface simplicity, pricing and market access, while negative themes included support delays and fee expectations.
Country-level review profiles can show materially different averages, so the Dutch figure should not be treated as one global DEGIRO rating. User reviews also cannot verify licence status, custody arrangements or regulatory compliance. Those points require regulator records and legal disclosures. Review aggregates are most useful for identifying recurring operational themes rather than proving misconduct.
How to verify the broker for yourself
Broker verification starts by matching the legal entity rather than searching only for the brand name. The entity behind the service is flatexDEGIRO Bank SE, with flatexDEGIRO Bank Dutch Branch operating the Dutch branch. The three identifiers are BaFin 119766, AFM 12048408 and DNB R182877. The entity name, status and registered location should match across the records.
A second check is to compare contact information with the official domain. The contact details list clients@degiro.com and +31 20 261 3072. The registered Dutch branch address is Amstelplein 1, Amsterdam. Differences in domains, payment instructions or legal-entity names deserve separate verification because clone websites can imitate legitimate financial companies.
Customer support
Customer support runs through the broker's Service Desk, including telephone and email channels. The contact details for the central Dutch operation are clients@degiro.com and +31 20 261 3072. Local DEGIRO sites also provide market-specific service channels in several European countries. Support is therefore organized around the securities brokerage service rather than a dedicated institutional forex dealing desk.
The platform also publishes a Help Centre, Investor's Academy and investment education material. These resources explain account settings, transfers, order types, products and risk concepts. They do not replace investment advice because the broker operates on an execution-only basis. User-review data shows both positive service experiences and complaints concerning response times.
Where is the broker actually based?
The broker is commercially associated with Amsterdam, while its parent banking entity is legally based in Frankfurt am Main. DEGIRO began as a Dutch broker and maintains its Dutch branch at Amstelplein 1 in Amsterdam. flatexDEGIRO Bank SE is the German banking entity that carries the primary banking licence. This cross-border structure explains why BaFin, AFM and DNB all appear in the regulatory profile.
The wider flatexDEGIRO group operates across 16 European countries through DEGIRO, flatex and ViTrade. Corporate reporting for 2026 states that the group serves more than 3.6 million customer accounts and provides access to more than 50 exchanges. DEGIRO itself reports access to more than 45 exchanges across 30 countries. Those figures describe securities-market reach, not the number of forex pairs offered.
Account types and bonus terms
Account types at DEGIRO are Basic, Active, Trader and Day Trader. The Basic profile is the standard profile, while Active, Trader and Day Trader profiles are restricted to legacy customers who already enabled them. Margin, meaning borrowed funds used to increase market exposure, is no longer activatable for new profiles. The official help centre confirms this restriction.
Active and Trader profiles can include Debit Money, short selling and derivatives, subject to eligibility and product tests. Day Trader applies separate intraday risk calculations to qualifying legacy accounts. DEGIRO warns that losses on these leveraged profiles can exceed the deposited amount. No retail deposit bonus forms part of the account offering.
| Feature | DEGIRO Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Disclosed regulators | BaFin 119766; AFM 12048408; DNB R182877 |
| Registration verified | Yes, German bank and Dutch branch records |
| Trading platforms | DEGIRO WebTrader, DEGIRO App |
| Minimum deposit | €0.01 |
| Maximum leverage | N/A |
| Account types | Basic; Active, Trader and Day Trader legacy profiles |
| Islamic account | Not disclosed on official site |
| Customer support | Phone, email, Help Centre |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer |
Is DEGIRO safe? Honest assessment
DEGIRO is a regulated European investment broker operating through a supervised German bank and Dutch branch. Its structure includes segregated investment custody, a €100,000 German deposit guarantee and investor-compensation coverage for qualifying asset-return failures. Current AFM and DNB public records confirm the Dutch regulatory footprint. The available evidence does not describe an unlicensed offshore forex operation.
The main qualification is product fit. DEGIRO does not provide standalone retail spot forex, MT4, MT5, cTrader, an API or a demo account. Margin and derivatives remain restricted for legacy profiles, so the service differs materially from a conventional leveraged forex broker. BaFin's 2023 and 2025 enforcement actions also remain relevant parts of the firm's compliance history.
Forex and derivative products carry high leverage; some or all invested capital may be lost. This content is for information only, not investment advice. Verify the broker's current regulation status with the relevant authority's official site before any investment decision.
