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Charles Schwab Promotions of 2026

Review Updated
Joel O'Leary
Author: Joel O'Leary
Joel O'Leary
Joel O'Leary
Full-Time Personal Finance Writer

Joel O’Leary is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, mortgages, and other personal finance topics. Joel has been writing about personal finance since 2018, previously leading editorial content for the How To Money podcast and serving as a resident writer at Budgets Are Sexy. He bought his first rental property at age 18, funding the down payment with savings from his high school job at McDonald’s -- a testament to his lifelong passion for smart money decisions. His work aims to make personal finance accessible and actionable for everyday readers. When he’s not writing, Joel enjoys surfing and spending time with his family.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

If you're thinking about opening a brokerage account, promotions can give you a nice little head start.

Charles Schwab currently offers two main promotions for new customers. One is designed for beginners just getting started. The other is for people moving a larger amount of money.

Here's a simple breakdown of the current Charles Schwab promotions in 2026, and what to know before you sign up.

New account bonus: Schwab Starter Kit™

This is Charles Schwab's most popular promotion, and it's built for brand-new investors.

The bonus: Open a new Schwab brokerage account, deposit at least $50, and Schwab adds $50 of free stock to your account.

That means you put in $50 and start with $100 invested.

How it works:

Schwab calls these fractional shares Stock Slices™. They let you own pieces of expensive stocks without needing thousands of dollars.

Charles Schwab
Learn More for Charles Schwab

On Charles Schwab's Secure Website.

Award Icon 2026 Award Winner
Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab

Our Rating:

4.90/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Bottom Line

Charles Schwab pioneered the low-cost brokerage model decades ago, and that legacy continues with its lineup of no-commission-fee offerings. The robust lineup of account types, investment vehicles, and high quality app round out the stacked feature set.

Fees:

$0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.

Account Minimum:

$0

Learn More for Charles Schwab

On Charles Schwab's Secure Website.

What to know: The $50 bonus is split evenly across the top five stocks in the S&P 500 by market value at the time your order is placed. Those companies can change over time.

This promotion is only available to new Schwab customers, and you can only earn it once. It's by no means a huge bonus. But hey, it's one of the easiest brokerage offers to earn.

Charles Schwab referral bonus: Earn up to $1,000

If you're planning to move a larger amount of money to Schwab, the referral bonus is worth a look.

The bonus: New customers who open an account using a referral link and make a qualifying deposit can earn between $100 and $1,000, and deposit at least $25,000.

Here are the bonus tiers and required deposit amounts:

Net Deposit Bonus
$25,000 - $49,999 $100
$50,000 - $99,999 $300
$100,000 - $499,999 $500
$500,000 or more $1,000
Data source: Charles Schwab

How it works:

  • Get a referral link from a current Schwab customer
  • Open an eligible Schwab account using that link
  • Transfer cash or investments within 45 days
  • Schwab deposits the bonus about one to two weeks after the funding window ends

What to know: You must be new to Schwab to qualify, and not every account type is eligible. You'll want to review the terms carefully before opening your account.

This bonus makes the most sense if you're already planning to move a large balance.

How Schwab's promotions compare to other brokerages

Schwab's bonuses aren't the biggest you'll see, but they're some of the easiest.

Many brokerages require deposits of $1,000, $5,000, or more just to earn a bonus. Schwab's Starter Kit only requires $50, which makes it perfect for beginners and folks starting small.

The referral bonus is more competitive if you're transferring a larger amount. But, similar offers exist at other top stock brokers. If you're moving serious money, it's smart to compare a few brokerages before deciding.

Open an account today to start investing with a reliable brokerage and take advantage of Charles Schwab's new account bonuses.

Alternatives to Consider

We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2026.

Broker Best For Commissions Learn More
Logo for Fidelity
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
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= Poor
Full-service investing at every experience level $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETFs*. No account fees****.
Learn More for Fidelity

On Fidelity's Secure Website.

Logo for Charles Schwab
4.90/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Low-cost investing with a full-featured platform $0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.
Learn More for Charles Schwab

On Charles Schwab's Secure Website.

Logo for Robinhood
4.80/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options $0 on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply.
Learn More for Robinhood

On Robinhood's Secure Website.

At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.

Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring brokerages from reputable brands. Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates brokerage accounts.

At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.

Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring brokerages from reputable brands. Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates brokerage accounts.

FAQs

  • Definitely, yes. Charles Schwab is one of the best low-cost brokers, especially for beginners. It offers $0 online stock and ETF trades, no account minimums, strong customer support, and easy-to-use tools.

    Schwab also won our 2026 Motley Fool Money award for Best Stock Broker for IRA Investors. It's a great choice for both new and experienced investors.

  • No. The current Charles Schwab promotions are offered to new customers opening eligible accounts only.

  • It depends on the promotion. The Starter Kit bonus is usually added shortly after you fund your account. Referral bonuses are typically deposited about one to two weeks after the 45-day funding period ends.