FlowBank is a Swiss-based online broker that offers trading services for forex, commodities, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. The broker offers a range of trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4, as well as its proprietary FlowOne platform. FlowBank’s trading conditions include competitive spreads, low commissions, and no minimum deposit requirements. The broker is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), providing clients with a high level of security and protection. Additionally, FlowBank offers a range of educational resources and customer support services to assist traders of all levels.
Trading Instruments
FlowBank offers a wide range of trading instruments across multiple asset classes, including:
- Stocks: More than 15,000 individual stocks from over 23 global stock exchanges, including local Swiss exchanges.
- Options: Over 382,000 options contracts and expiries at various strike prices.
- Futures: 936 futures contracts from global exchanges, including agricultural, energy, financials, and metals.
- Forex: 53 forex pairs, including major, minor, and exotic currency pairs.
- Cryptocurrencies: 48 crypto derivatives, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
- CFDs: Over 4,700 CFDs on stocks, indices, commodities, and ETFs.
- Funds: More than 2,100 funds, including actively managed funds, ETFs, and index funds.
- OTC products: A range of over-the-counter products, including bonds, forwards, and structured products.
FlowBank offers a true multi-asset trading experience, with access to a vast array of global financial markets and products. Traders can access these instruments through various trading platforms, including FlowBank’s in-house platforms and the MetaTrader suite.
Trading Conditions
FlowBank offers a range of trading conditions depending on the account type chosen by the trader. Here are some of the key trading conditions offered by FlowBank:
- FlowBank does not publish average spreads, but advertises a minimum spread of 0.5 pips for its Platinum account (which requires a minimum deposit of 100,000 CHF). Spread values may vary for other account types.
- FlowBank charges commissions on certain instruments, such as shares and options. The commission rates may vary depending on the account type and the instrument being traded.
- The maximum leverage offered by FlowBank is 1:30 for major forex pairs and 1:10 for other instruments such as indices and commodities. The leverage values may vary depending on the instrument being traded and the trader’s location.
- The minimum deposit required to open an account with FlowBank varies depending on the trader’s location. In some cases, there may be no minimum deposit required.
- FlowBank charges a quarterly custody fee ranging from 10 CHF to 50 CHF, depending on the value of assets held in the account. This fee cannot be avoided by placing trades within a set time period.
- FlowBank offers rebates for high-volume forex traders with at least $50 million in turnover. The rebate amount varies depending on the trading volume.
- Traders may be required to pay fees for real-time market data subscriptions, which can vary depending on the exchange and the type of data being accessed.
It’s worth noting that trading conditions may vary depending on the account type and the trader’s location.
FlowBank Account Types
FlowBank offers three main account types: Classic, Gold, and Platinum. Each account has its own set of features and requirements, designed to cater to different types of traders.
The Classic account is the most basic account, requiring no minimum deposit to open. It offers access to FlowBank’s wide range of trading products, including forex, CFDs, stocks, bonds, and options. However, this account does not offer any special features, and traders are subject to FlowBank’s standard pricing and fees.
The Gold account is designed for more active traders, with a minimum deposit requirement of 25,000 CHF. This account offers lower trading fees and spreads than the Classic account, as well as access to premium research and trading tools. Gold account holders also receive a dedicated account manager, as well as access to exclusive educational content.
The Platinum account is FlowBank’s premium account, designed for high-net-worth individuals and institutional traders. It requires a minimum deposit of 100,000 CHF and offers the lowest trading fees and spreads of all three accounts. Platinum account holders also receive access to FlowBank’s VIP services, including a dedicated team of account managers, exclusive research, and access to institutional-grade trading platforms.
In addition to these three main account types, FlowBank also offers a demo account for traders who want to practice trading without risking real money. The demo account provides access to all of FlowBank’s trading products and platforms, allowing traders to test their strategies in a risk-free environment.
Trading Platforms
FlowBank provides its clients with access to multiple trading platforms, including its proprietary FlowOne trading platform, the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and the mobile trading app, FlowBank App.
The FlowOne trading platform is a powerful and user-friendly web-based platform that allows traders to access a wide range of financial instruments, including stocks, forex, CFDs, options, and futures. The platform is highly customizable, allowing traders to personalize their trading experience by adding their favorite instruments, creating watchlists, and setting up custom alerts. Additionally, the platform features advanced charting capabilities, news and research tools, and a range of order types to help traders execute their trades with precision and ease.
For traders who prefer to use the industry-standard MT4 platform, FlowBank also offers this platform. MT4 is known for its advanced charting capabilities, extensive library of technical indicators, and automated trading capabilities through the use of expert advisors (EAs). The platform is available in both desktop and mobile versions, making it a versatile trading platform.
Finally, FlowBank’s mobile trading app, FlowBank App, is designed for traders who are always on the go. The app allows traders to trade on the same account as they do on the desktop platform, access real-time market data, and execute trades quickly and efficiently from their mobile devices. The app is available for download on both iOS and Android devices.
Regulation and Security
FlowBank is a regulated multi-asset broker, licensed and supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) and a member of esisuisse, which is the Swiss deposit insurance scheme.
FlowBank is also a member of the Swiss Bankers Association and regulated by the Swiss Code of Obligations. As a regulated broker, FlowBank is required to adhere to strict regulatory guidelines, including segregation of client funds from company funds, maintaining minimum capital requirements, and providing transparent reporting and disclosure to clients.
To ensure the security of its clients’ funds and personal information, FlowBank has implemented robust security measures such as SSL encryption technology and two-factor authentication. Additionally, the broker uses Tier III data centers for its servers, which provide the highest levels of physical security and redundancy.
In summary, FlowBank’s regulatory status and security measures make it a safe and trustworthy broker for traders and investors to trade a range of financial instruments.
Conclusion on FlowBank
FlowBank is a Swiss-based multi-asset broker that offers a comprehensive range of financial instruments across multiple asset classes. The broker is regulated by FINMA, and clients are protected with up to $100,000 in deposit insurance from esisuisse.
The broker offers a variety of account types, including a demo account, and provides its clients with a choice of in-house trading platforms as well as the full suite of MetaTrader platforms. The platforms are user-friendly and well-designed, with a range of features and tools to assist traders of all levels.
FlowBank’s product offering is impressive, with a massive list of products that can be navigated dynamically by asset class from within the trading platform. The broker’s share pricing is particularly competitive, allowing traders to trade securities and invest in local Swiss exchanges on a commission-free basis.
However, the broker’s custody fees cannot be avoided, and its educational materials and research offerings are limited compared to category leaders. Additionally, the FlowBank Pro platform’s design does not yet compete with more modern platforms such as Saxo Bank’s SaxoTraderPRO.
Overall, FlowBank is a reputable and secure broker with a vast selection of trading instruments, making it a good choice for traders looking to invest in Swiss regional exchanges and financial markets.
The platform is user friendly and transparent. Im a professional trader at Traders Club International Marbella and have used many different platforms. It has all the features of a good trading platform. Support at Flowbank is efficient and professional. I highly recommend Flowbank as a trading partner.
On the plus side: they’re fees are very competitive in Switzerland.
After a call with their representative I however did not decide to open an account. Mostly because I couldn’t help the feeling they wanted to rip me off somehow as the representative didn’t listen to me, instead kept on saying how great they are and pushing me towards investing in their most expensive products.
As they are new to market, I’ll wait a bit and consider them once again after the company is more mature.
I opened an account and now have access to trade global markets easily from a mobile app. I appreciate that I have access to a wide range of financial products and the pricing is very attractive. The FX rates are especially interesting, especially compared with the major Swiss banks.