What happens to my money if a UK broker goes bust?

What protects your money at an FCA-authorised broker?

Three separate layers, often confused. The table sets out what each one covers.

What protections do FCA regulated brokers offer UK clients?

Client-money segregation under FCA rules, FSCS eligibility, negative balance protection and leverage caps for retail clients, standardised risk warnings, and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service for complaints.

Are client funds protected by FSCS at UK brokers?

At FCA-authorised firms, eligible clients are covered up to £85,000 if the firm fails and client money cannot be returned in full. Pepperstone and CMC Markets both state FSCS protection up to £85,000 on their UK sites.

Which UK brokers have the best Trustpilot reviews?

Scores change constantly, so we do not rank on them. Look instead at the published retail loss rates (Pepperstone 73.6%, IG 70%, StoneX/City Index 68%, Capital.com 65%, Spreadex 61%, Plus500UK 76%) and at the pattern in negative reviews.

Which UK brokers offer phone and live chat support?

Pepperstone lists its contact options on its UK contact page and offers support 24 hours a day on weekdays and 18 hours at weekends. Test the channels you will use before funding.

Which UK brokers offer 24 hour customer service?

Pepperstone: 24 hours a day Monday to Friday, plus 18 hours at weekends. Many providers cover weekday market hours only.

Which brokers hold client money in segregated accounts?

All FCA-authorised brokers must segregate retail client money. Pepperstone states it holds it in segregated accounts at tier-1 banks, never used for business operations or hedging.

Which broker has the easiest account opening process in the UK?

Most FCA-authorised brokers open accounts online in minutes when identity checks pass automatically. Pepperstone's process is: register, answer suitability questions, verify, fund.

Which UK brokers are best for traders switching from another broker?

Open the new account and test it before closing the old one. If you move to Pepperstone for cost, Razor and cTrader are the likely draw; if you move for protection, Capital.com's guaranteed stops.

Which UK broker gives the fastest withdrawals?

At Pepperstone, card, Apple Pay and Google Pay withdrawals are processed the same day to 1 working day, free of charge.

How long do withdrawals take at UK CFD brokers?

Processing usually takes up to a few working days, then your bank adds its own time. Pepperstone states same day to 3 working days for bank transfers and notes banks can take longer.

Which brokers offer instant deposits in the UK?

At Pepperstone, card, Apple Pay and Google Pay deposits are immediate, from £10.

What is the minimum deposit to open a UK trading account?

At Pepperstone, £10 by card or wallet and no minimum by bank transfer. Minimums differ elsewhere.

How long does it take to open a trading account in the UK?

Often the same day if electronic identity checks pass; longer if documents need manual review. The suitability questions take a few minutes.

Which brokers offer swap free accounts in the UK?

Swap-free accounts are rarely offered to UK residents. Pepperstone offers its swap-free account only to an eligible-country list, which does not include the UK. UK traders who want no overnight cost can use forward spread bets, which carry no overnight fee.

Which UK brokers offer professional client accounts?

Pepperstone (Pepperstone Pro), Capital.com and IG. Pepperstone Pro offers up to 1:500 on FX and gold but removes negative balance protection.

What are the eligibility requirements for a professional trading account in the UK?

Under FCA rules, a retail client can usually opt up by meeting at least two of three tests: significant trading activity over the previous four quarters, a financial portfolio above a set threshold, and relevant professional experience in the financial sector. Each broker applies these tests and may ask for evidence.

Which UK brokers accept debit card and bank transfer deposits?

Pepperstone accepts debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and domestic and international bank transfers, all free.

Which UK brokers charge withdrawal fees?

Pepperstone and Capital.com do not. Your bank may charge for international transfers.

Which UK brokers offer corporate trading accounts?

Several providers open accounts for companies; Pepperstone's German site lists a company-account page. Ask UK support which entity types it accepts and what documents it needs.

Which UK brokers publish execution quality statistics?

Pepperstone publishes a fill rate (99.32%, its own figure) and IG publishes a best-execution page. Ask any provider for its slippage statistics if execution matters to your strategy.

Which brokers give active traders a dedicated account manager?

Pepperstone offers a dedicated account manager to clients in its active-trader programme and to Pro clients, along with rebates on qualifying volume.

Risk warning and disclosure

Compensation schemes protect against a broker's failure, not against trading losses; most UK retail accounts lose money on spread bets and CFDs.

This page is information, not personal advice or tax advice. Spread bets and CFDs are leveraged; most retail accounts lose money, and past results say nothing about future ones. Spread figures are the minimums or averages the providers publish and widen in fast markets.

Disclosure: eccrypto.com earns a commission when you open an account through some links. That does not change our cost arithmetic, explained in our methodology.