Taiwan Investors Must Read: Securities and Banking Service Fees Comparison and Selection Guide

2025-12-24 18:37:47

In recent years, the number of people investing in Taiwan stocks, US stocks, or derivative products has continued to grow. However, retail investors must go through a securities firm to trade. With so many options on the market, how can you find the one most suitable for you? This article will quickly introduce the differences among Taiwan’s mainstream securities banks from multiple dimensions such as fees, services, and trading tools.

What are the key factors in choosing a securities firm?

Before comparing specific brokers, understanding the core standards for selection will give you better direction:

1. Significant differences in commission discounts

The statutory rate for Taiwan stock commissions is 0.1425%, applicable to both buy and sell transactions, with a minimum of 20 NT dollars. However, due to lower online order costs and fierce market competition, brokers are offering discounts to attract clients. Discount levels range from 20% to 65%, meaning that for the same trading volume, choosing different brokers could cost several thousand NT dollars more or less.

For example, with a common TSMC trade: buying 5 lots and selling 5 lots, with transaction amounts of 2.15 million and 2.25 million NT dollars respectively, calculating commission at 0.1425% and then applying a 60% discount results in paying 1,838 NT dollars for buying and 1,923 NT dollars for selling, plus a 0.3% transaction tax on the sale of 6,750 NT dollars, totaling 10,512 NT dollars in transaction costs. If the discount differs, this cost can vary significantly.

2. User-friendliness of trading software

All brokers offer free mobile or desktop trading tools, such as Yuanta Securities’ “Investment Master” app, KGI Securities’ “Mobile eStrategy,” etc. Good software should have real-time quotes, technical analysis, account management, and other functions. The software that can truly be used is the standard for evaluation. It’s recommended to try using it for a few days before making a decision.

3. Source of securities and financing costs

Investors with large trading volumes or frequently engaging in margin trading should pay special attention. Sufficient securities supply means easy borrowing, and short selling is also possible; financing interest rates usually range from 6% to 7%. Larger brokers tend to be more competitive. The margin ratio for Taiwan stocks is 60% for listed stocks and 50% for OTC stocks. If you often use margin, big brokers are usually more cost-effective.

Top ten securities firms in Taiwan by market share

Based on the total transaction volume in 2024, here are the rankings of local brokers and their main trading products:

Rank	Company Name	Market Share(%)	Main Trading Products
1	Yuanta Securities	12.89	Taiwan stocks, ETFs, Hong Kong stocks, China stocks, US stocks, Japanese stocks, international futures, options, etc.
2	KGI Securities	10.08	Taiwan stocks, Taiwan ETFs, futures, options, and overseas repurchase agreements(Hong Kong, US, China, Japan) etc.
3	Fubon Financial	7.05	Taiwan stocks, Taiwan ETFs, futures, options, and overseas repurchase agreements(Hong Kong, US, China, Japan) etc.
4	E.SUN Securities	4.62	Overseas securities investment in US, Hong Kong, China, and Japan stocks
5	Cathay Securities	4.06	Taiwan stocks, ETFs, bonds, warrants, futures, odd-lots, and overseas commodities
6	KY Securities	3.38	Taiwan stocks, bonds, futures, warrants, and overseas commodities
7	Yuanta FHC Securities	3.18	Taiwan stocks, bonds, futures, warrants, and overseas stocks(US, China, Hong Kong) etc.
8	Hua Nan Yongchang	2.54	Taiwan stocks, bonds, futures, and overseas repurchase products(Hong Kong, US, China, Japan) etc.
9	Mega Securities	2.52	Taiwan stocks, bonds, futures, warrants, structured products, and overseas repurchase agreements
10	Uni-President Securities	2.43	Taiwan stocks, bonds, warrants, futures, and overseas repurchase agreements(Hong Kong, US, China, Japan) etc.

Data source: Taiwan Stock Exchange, statistics period from January 1 to December 31, 2024, based on total transaction volume

Complete comparison of electronic order commissions among major brokers

Small differences in discount levels directly impact your trading costs. Below are the discount tiers and related offers of mainstream brokers:

Code	Broker Name	Discount Level	Refund Method	Special Offers
8560	Yuanta Securities	60%	Daily refund	New account Taiwan stock regular fixed amount deduction for 3 consecutive months with 300 NT dollars voucher; every 100,000 NT dollars in Taiwan ETF gets 100 NT dollars voucher
9200	KGI Securities	60%(New customers 25%)	Monthly refund	-
9600	Fubon Financial	60%(New customers below 20%, monthly trading within 1 million)	Monthly refund	-
9A00	E.SUN Securities	20%(Monthly trading within 1 million)	Monthly refund	-
8880	Cathay Securities	28%	Daily refund	-
2856	Yuanta FHC Securities	65%	Monthly refund	-
6005	KY Securities	60%	Daily refund	-
2880	Hua Nan Yongchang	65%	Monthly refund	-
2855	Uni-President Securities	Tiered by trading amount: within 100K 25%; 100K-500K 20%; over 500K 16.8%	Monthly refund	-
000700	Mega Securities	50%	Monthly refund	-

Data source: Official websites of securities firms, market research, actual conditions subject to account opening

Commission discounts are usually negotiable; investors with large trading volume and substantial capital have room for negotiation. Regular communication with your broker can often secure more favorable terms.

Example calculation of Taiwan stock trading costs

Using TSMC(TSM) as an example, see how much a single trade actually costs:

Item	Buy	Sell
Stock Price	430 NT dollars	450 NT dollars
Lots	5 lots	5 lots
Total Amount	2.15 million NT dollars	2.25 million NT dollars
Commission Rate	0.1425%	0.1425%
Discount Assumption	60%	60%
Actual Commission Paid	1,838 NT dollars	1,924 NT dollars
Subtotal of Commission	3,762 NT dollars
Transaction Tax Rate	-	0.3%
Transaction Tax	-	6,750 NT dollars
Total Cost of the Whole Transaction	10,512 NT dollars

Data source: Mitrade compilation

This example clearly shows that each percentage point difference in commission discount directly eats into your profit.

Domestic Taiwan brokers vs. overseas brokers: how to choose?

Local brokers in Taiwan have clear advantages in trading Taiwan stocks, but if you want to invest in US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, or other overseas markets, the “re-entrusted” fee via local brokers tends to be higher. Opening accounts directly with overseas brokers might be more cost-effective. Here are three popular overseas trading platforms in Taiwan:

( Mitrade——The first choice for small capital and leveraged traders

Mitrade is a global CFD)trading platform regulated by ASIC in Australia. It covers US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, indices, forex, commodities, virtual currencies, etc., supporting leverage from 1 to 200 times, allowing both long and short trading.

In recent years, Taiwanese users have increased significantly, and the platform has strengthened local services. Direct deposits and withdrawals in New Taiwan Dollars, 24-hour Taiwanese customer service, and no international fees greatly lower the usage barrier.

Platform advantages:

Trust account safeguards funds
Very low threshold: start trading with just 50 USD###about 1500 TWD(
Zero commission, free withdrawal, ultra-low spreads
Free demo account for risk-free practice
24-hour Taiwanese customer support

Especially suitable for:

Investors leveraging idle funds
Short-term traders doing hedging or day trading
Traders with small capital seeking to amplify returns

) Interactive Brokers(——Platform for large capital investors

Founded in 1977, a veteran international broker covering global markets, with accounts available in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and more. Trading products include US, UK, German, Japanese, Korean stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs, futures, forex, etc. Per share commission is $0.005, with Chinese customer service available.

Platform advantages:

No account opening fee
Commission structure more favorable for large transactions
Extremely rich financial products, one-stop investment portfolio

Especially suitable for:

Investors with substantial funds seeking long-term stable returns
Experienced investors needing diversified asset allocation

Note: Margin accounts require maintaining a minimum balance of $2000 USD

) Firstrade——A beginner-friendly US stock platform

A pure online US broker regulated by FINRA and SIPC. Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, etc., are commission-free. Many Taiwanese investors like to use this platform for regular fixed investments in US ETFs.

Platform advantages:

Zero commission trading
Simple and intuitive interface
Provides protection against unauthorized trading losses

Especially suitable for:

Long-term dividend investors, dollar-cost averaging into US stocks or ETFs
Small investors seeking low-cost US stock investment channels

Note: Withdrawal fees are relatively high###$25 per withdrawal(, it’s recommended to reduce frequent withdrawals

Comparison table of fees and products of three major overseas platforms

Platform	Trading Fee	Withdrawal Fee	Main Products	Minimum Requirement
Mitrade	Zero commission)spread-based###	1-2 free per month, over $5 per additional	US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, Australian stocks, indices, forex, commodities, crypto CFDs	Starting at 50 USD
Interactive Brokers	Up to 1% commission cap, $0.005 per share	From $10	US, UK, Germany, Japan, Korea stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs, futures, CFDs, forex	Minimum margin account balance $2000
Firstrade	Zero commission on stocks, ETFs, options	$25 per withdrawal	US stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, options	No minimum requirement

Three major steps to open an overseas account

Step 1: Online registration Taking Mitrade as an example, just fill in email, set a password, and choose currency. After registration, you can immediately use a demo account to familiarize yourself with the trading interface and procedures, experiencing risk-free.

Step 2: Complete verification and deposit After passing KYC identity verification, you can start real trading. Deposit methods are flexible(Skrill, Poli, credit card, or bank transfer). Mitrade’s minimum deposit is only 50 USD, friendly for investors with limited funds.

Step 3: Search for products and start trading Log in to the trading page, enter stock code or name in the search bar, find the target product, and place an order. The operation is simple and intuitive.

Summary and suggestions

For Taiwanese investors engaging in stocks, bonds, or options trading, opening an account through a securities company is necessary—there’s no shortcut. This article summarizes the top ten brokers in Taiwan, their fee comparisons, and overseas platform options, aiming to help you find the most suitable trading channel faster.

Core checklist when choosing:

Commission discounts and payout speed(Daily vs. Monthly)
Stability and ease of use of trading software
Securities supply and financing interest rates
Convenience of business locations and efficiency of customer service
Completeness of investment targets(Taiwan stocks, overseas, derivatives, etc.)

Local Taiwanese brokers excel in convenience and safety, with low Taiwan stock commissions, but may be less cost-effective for overseas investments involving re-entrusted trading. Conversely, overseas brokers specialize in international markets, with more competitive fees. There is no absolute best choice, only the one most suitable for you—based on your trading volume, investment style, and target assets, you can truly find the platform with the lowest cost and best experience.

Wishing you find a broker you like and a smooth investment journey!

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