Open and fund an account by January 21, 2027, to earn a $50–$1,000 bonus. You must fund the account within 45 days of opening (eligibility is determined on day 45) and keep the funds in the account for at least 90 days after that determination. The account also offers commission-free stock trading, so you could put the money to work by buying a broad-market ETF like VOO.

The current sign-up bonus is tiered based on how much you deposit into the account:

  • Deposit $5,000–$24,999 to earn a $50 bonus
  • Deposit $25,000–$99,999 to earn a $150 bonus
  • Deposit $100,000–$249,999 to earn a $325 bonus
  • Deposit $250,000 or more to earn a $1,000 bonus

This is a pretty good offer, so I added it to the rankings:

About J.P. Morgan Self Invest

These days, major banks offer beginner-friendly investing platforms that focus on no trading fees, no monthly fees, and no minimum deposit. Chase’s J.P. Morgan Self Invest is a similar product. You can trade stocks and exchange-traded funds online for free, and the mobile version is integrated directly into the Chase app, which is convenient. It’s a good fit for beginners who want to learn how to buy and sell investments, while more advanced investors may find the available assets and tools somewhat limited.

Opening bonus

See the beginning of the article.

Terms

  • This cash offer is limited to one per customer and applies to only one new You Invest Trade account (brokerage account, Traditional IRA, or Roth IRA).
  • To qualify for the opening bonus, you must open the account through this page. Customers must transfer new funds from a non-Chase or non-J.P. Morgan account to open and fund a new You Invest Trade account. The new funds must be transferred within 45 days of opening the account.
  • The bonus tier will be confirmed on day 45. The cash bonus will be credited to the account within 10 business days after the requirements are met. You can receive only one new-funds bonus every 12 months for Your Invest, Chase Private Client Checking, or Sapphire Checking.
  • The new funds must remain in the account for at least 90 days after the transfer, excluding losses caused by trading or market fluctuations.

Trading fees

The main trading fees for this account are listed below. As you can see, online trades are generally free.

My take

Chase’s Self-Directed Investing account is similar to the zero-commission stock trading platforms on the market, but it can still be useful for loyal Chase customers.

That said, this account doesn’t offer a high yield on uninvested cash. For example, Moomoo, TradeUP, and Webull offer very high yields of 4%–8%. You could invest the money in a money market fund such as VMMXX or VUSXX. These funds yield more than 2% and are considered very safe, but they aren’t protected by FDIC insurance like traditional high-yield savings accounts.

Also, according to reader feedback, Sapphire Banking offers don’t allow IRA funds to count toward the deposit amount, while Self-Directed Investing does. You may be able to transfer IRA funds over at little to no cost. However, IRA transfers often involve fees, so contact your current institution and Chase to ask about any transfer-in or transfer-out fees.

About investing platforms and bonuses

Many investment and stock accounts now offer generous opening bonuses. You can choose a few good offers and open multiple accounts without affecting your credit score. In most cases, earning the bonus simply requires depositing funds, so if you have money available to transfer, you could open an account at each platform. Many platforms also pay high interest on uninvested cash, so you may not be missing out.

Stock Market Basics

Here are some popular U.S. stock brokerages and their account-opening bonuses:

Overview Sign-Up Bonus Quick Take
Moomoo $200 in stock vouchers + $1,000 in Anthropic stock + 8.1% APY Feature-rich with a strong Chinese-language experience. Its market data, Level 2 quotes, options, and cash management features are useful for everyone from beginners to active traders.
TradeUp 50 shares of NVDA + a chance to win 5 shares + 4% for three months Well suited to active trading, with competitive trading fees and margin rates for U.S. tax residents. It supports Web Trading and Level 2 quotes and offers Chinese-language customer service.
Webull 12 fractional shares + one month of Premium membership Strong charting and active-trading features, including technical indicators, options, and premarket and after-hours trading. A good fit for frequent traders.
BBAE Up to $650 in rewards Convenient for Chinese users to open an account; applications are accepted without an SSN or ITIN. It offers good Chinese-language support, but currently charges a platform fee, making it less suitable for frequent trading with small amounts.
Robinhood A chance to win 1 share of stock Its simple interface is easy to use, making it suitable for first-time U.S. stock investors. Gold members also get a higher yield on uninvested cash and lower margin rates.
Interactive Brokers Up to $1,000 A highly capable broker with access to global markets and multiple currencies. Its margin costs are competitive, and Chinese residents can also open accounts. A good fit for experienced investors and those investing globally.
TradeStation $250 Geared toward professional and active traders, with powerful advanced charting, strategy backtesting, and automated trading tools. Most long-term investors may not need these features.
Schwab Up to $1,000 Well suited to long-term investing and larger portfolios, with convenient access to ETFs and CDs. Checking accounts and global ATM access are also advantages, but the default yield on uninvested cash is relatively low.
Fidelity Account opening link A long-established full-service brokerage suited to long-term investing, ETFs, and retirement accounts. It also offers good cash management, making it a solid choice as a primary long-term brokerage.
BIT (formerly Matrixport) Earn $210 by depositing and trading Suitable for Chinese users and digital asset investors. You can use funds such as USDT and USDC to invest in U.S. stocks. It is not a traditional U.S. brokerage, so review its fees and asset custody structure separately.
SoFi Invest $75 for opening an account Easy to use and supports Stock Bits, making it suitable for small investments and long-term investing. It has fewer advanced market data and trading tools, so it is not ideal for frequent trading.
M1 Finance Get $10 when you deposit Focused on Pies and automated investing. It is well suited to setting a stock and ETF allocation and investing regularly over the long term, but not to active trading.

If you don’t have an SSN or ITIN but still want to invest in U.S. stocks, consider the brokerages and platforms below. They accept a full set of Chinese documents, and you can register with a national ID card or passport. None participates in China’s CRS.

  • BBAE: Welcoming to Chinese users; no SSN or ITIN required to open an account
  • BIT (formerly Matrixport): Open an account with a national ID card; approval can take just a few hours.
  • Bitget: Complete identity verification with a national ID card or Chinese passport

If you’re in China and want to invest in U.S. stocks, see this overview:

Application link