eToro Deposit

Written by Mike Druttman

Fact checked by Nick Zelver

Updated Aug, 2024

Introduction

Embarking on your eToro trading adventure begins with your initial deposit.

Grasping the nuances of deposit methods is crucial for understanding the platform and its offerings in CFD trading, stock market transactions, and cryptocurrency investments. In this guide, I'll share some of my key insights and tips based on my personal experience with making a deposit into my trading account.

Deposit Currencies

The platform primarily operates with the US Dollar. However, deposits in other currencies are accepted and automatically converted to USD prior to trading. Due to the platform's operation in USD, a conversion fee applies when local currencies are exchanged into this base currency.

If you'd like to know what currencies does eToro support for deposits, there are actually more than 20 options including AUD, EUR, GBP, SGD and more.

Minimum Deposit Requirements

Understanding what is the minimum deposit for eToro is crucial to ensure you have sufficient funds to add to your trading account.

For trading forex, stocks, and other instruments on the eToro app, the standard minimum deposit is $50 for most countries. In contrast, the minimum deposit is only $10 for the US. However, certain countries have a higher threshold, with a $1,000 minimum deposit requirement.

Important to Note: Your initial deposit acts as the foundational brokerage fund for starting trading activities on the platform. All subsequent deposits maintain a minimum requirement of $50.

Specifics for US and UK Depositors

For US-based users, the first-time minimum deposit is $10. UK traders, on the other hand, are required to deposit at least $100 initially. Following the first deposit, both US and UK users must adhere to the $50 minimum for subsequent deposits. For UK clients, the deposit amount in GBP is determined based on the current exchange rates.

Maximum Deposit Limits

The upper limit for deposits varies based on your chosen payment method. Also, it's important to note that specific payment options are only accessible in certain countries.

For instance, credit/debit cards allow a single maximum deposit of $40,000, while PayPal, NETELER and Skrill will only allow $10,000 per transaction, and for other payment methods, the limits are also different.

Supported Payment Methods

Thinking of what are the different deposit methods available on eToro? When it comes to funding your trading account, the supported options can vary based on your geographical location.

Typically, the platform accommodates credit/debit cards and bank transfers as standard options. However, if you're curious about additional methods they might support, I've discovered a practical approach that worked well for me:

1. Starting the Process: First, log into your trading account. Look for and click on the "Deposit Funds" button. This is your gateway to the funding options.
2. Discovering Your Options: Once you click, you'll be redirected to the deposit page. Here, the platform presents a list of all the payment methods that are available specifically for your account. This list is customized according to the country your account is registered in.

⚡️ From my experience, using this method is a real time-saver. It eliminates the need to sift through extensive information on their website or wait for a response from the customer support team. By directly accessing the deposit screen, you can quickly and efficiently explore all the payment options eToro has to offer for your account.

Process of Making a Deposit

I find the steps on how to deposit on eToro to be pretty straightforward. It all starts by accessing the platform, hitting the "Deposit Funds" blue button, entering an amount, choosing from the available payment methods, and finally processing the transaction. It's that simple.

Processing Times May Vary

So how long would it take to see the funds on the trading account? Deposits via online banking might experience a delay of up to 3 business days. This is due to the required confirmation process from your bank.

Conversely, I find that the deposits made through online payment systems like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are much quicker, typically taking only a few minutes to a few hours.

eToro Money: The Fastest Option

Luckily, my account supports their in-house e-money service called "eToro Money" and what I really liked about this method is that it brings a lot of convenience for deposits and withdrawals as well. For instance, I transferred the funds from this e-wallet into my trading account and I got it in just a few seconds! How convenient is that? 

So how do I deposit funds to my eToro trading account using eToro Money? The process is quite simple because this payment method is already integrated on the deposit page or screen of the platform.

💸 Having sufficient funds is important!

It's important to be aware if your e-money account still has sufficient funds. Otherwise, you need to know your other options for topping up your account by still using this method if the balance is low.

Unsupported Payment Methods

While this broker supports a wide array of payment methods, it's helpful to know which popular options are currently not accepted. Here are some of them to save you time:

Corporate Accounts Policy

It's important to note that using a corporate account for funding a personal trading account with this broker is against their terms and conditions.

However, there is actually an option to set up a corporate trading account, requiring a minimum deposit of $10,000. To establish a corporate account, you must submit relevant documents to classify the business as a sole proprietorship, corporation, or partnership. This is the information that I got when I asked about this from their support team.

Setting Up Recurring Deposits

eToro offers the functionality of automatic recurring deposits. To access this feature, users must first complete a manual deposit using a credit or debit card. Following this initial deposit, you can arrange for recurring deposits on a daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis.

The recurring deposit feature enables automatic transfers of a predetermined amount into your trading account at regular intervals, simplifying the process of maintaining and growing your investment portfolio over time.

Mobile Deposit Options are the Same

The eToro mobile app mirrors the web-based platform in offering a range of deposit options. This means you can effortlessly manage your trading account and make deposits using your preferred method – be it credit or debit card, or any other payment method available in your region – directly from your mobile device.

Deposit Restrictions Regarding Third-Party Bank Accounts

The platform strictly prohibits the use of third-party bank accounts for deposits. This means you cannot use someone else's bank account, irrespective of your relationship with them, to fund your investment account.

Understanding Third-Party Payments

A third-party payment occurs when the funds originate from an individual other than the eToro account holder. Their terms and conditions mandate that the registered account owner must also be the source and owner of the deposited funds.

Additional Key Takeaways

• While opening an account doesn't require an initial deposit, trading on the platform does. The minimum varies by country, ranging from $10 to $10,000.
• They are no fees or commissions for deposits. However, charges may apply from the payment method provider, so it's advised to check with them for any potential fees.
• Depositing funds through the mobile app mirrors the process on the web platform. Just tap the "Deposit Funds" option in the app and follow the on-screen instructions.
• If a deposit doesn’t appear in your account within a reasonable time frame, contact eToro's customer support. Assistance is available through a support ticket, live chat, or phone.
• Deposits must originate from payment methods registered in the account holder's name. Using someone else's payment method, even with permission, is not allowed to prevent fraudulent activities.
• To cancel a deposit, contact eToro's customer service immediately. Cancellations are only possible before 2:30 pm ET on the day of processing. For ACH deposits, note that there's a 6 business day hold on withdrawals.
• Deposit bonuses or promotions are not available due to regulatory compliance. As a regulated broker, they adhere to strict rules prohibiting such incentives.

The Necessity of Deposits for Trading

Remember: To initiate BUY or SELL orders with this broker, much like in traditional trading, possessing a capital base is essential. Your initial deposit serves as the foundation for implementing effective investment strategies to gradually expand your portfolio. As you become proficient in trading with this broker, consider adding more eToro funds into your account to diversify your investments across various markets such as stocks, forex, and crypto.

I trust that the information provided here will assist you with any concerns, questions, or issues related to deposits. If you find this guide useful, please feel free to share it with others.

eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.

Please note that CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

This communication is intended for information and educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or investment recommendation. Past performance is not an indication of future results.

Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice.  The value of your investments may go up or down.  Your capital is at risk.

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.

eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, which hasbeen prepared by our partner utilizing publicly available non-entity specific information about eToro.