Update 2/3/25: Deal is back with promo code BRCTAFZN. Hat tip to ShawntheShawn
Update 2/22/24: TradeStation are saying that TSTVAFYB is expired, so marking this as expired.
Update 2/19/24: looks like code TSTVAFYB is working again for $150. Hat tip to ShawntheShawn
Update 10/22/23: Unfortunately it’s down to just $50 now when you deposit $500
Update 9/4/23: Offer is back, promo code WHLEAGFS BRAVAGDC. Updated the details and link below. (ht mangorunner)
The Offer
Direct link to offer | New link
- TradeStation is offering a bonus of $150 when you open a new account with promo code
TSTVAFYBWHLEAGFS BRAVAGDCTSTVAFYBdeposit a minimum of $500 within 30 days of account opening and maintain $500+.
You must maintain your balance and then you’ll receive two $75 payments – $75 for the first month and another $75 for the second month.
The Fine Print
- Only New Entity (non-Institutional) Individual or Joint equities and futures accounts with the correct promotional code entered and initially funded with New Assets (as defined below) of $500.00 or greater are eligible for this cash offer.
- To qualify, you must enroll by entering the promotional code on new account application or request to enroll a new account, via telephone or email, with a TradeStation Representative.
- You must initially fund the Account with New Assets within 45 calendar days of Account enrollment. New Assets is defined as cash or securities held at a financial institution other than TradeStation (assets transferred from an existing TradeStation account do not qualify). Your Account will not qualify for the cash offer if you withdraw or transfer assets from your Account, then redeposit them into the Account. Asset fluctuations (up or down) do not affect the calculation of Qualifying Assets.
- Minimum funding of $500 must be maintained through month following account fund date for first payment and through the next month for subsequent payment.
- The cash offer will be determined based on Qualifying Assets in the Account as follows: Less than $500.00 – cash reward of $0; $500 or more – 2 cash rewards of $75 (total of $150).
- Cash reward will be paid out in monthly increments of $75. First deposit of $75 into the Account will be two months following the account fund date. Each subsequent credit will post in following month of qualification. This offer is not affiliated with TradingView and a subscription to TradingView is not required for qualification. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers. Only one offer per client on one qualifying account. Existing clients are not eligible for this offer. Customers who receive promotional offers from any TradeStation affiliate may be subject to IRS Form 1099-MISC reporting requirements should the total value of those items exceed $599 in a calendar year. Please consult a tax professional.
- This promotional offer does not apply to charges associated with overnight fees, regulatory fees or other account fees and charges, including margin interest, if any. Your account will be considered and approved or disapproved based on all relevant factors, including your financial situation and trading experience. Prices, fees, costs and terms are subject to change. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers. Additional restrictions apply. TradeStation reserves the right to terminate this offer or change the terms and conditions at any time.
Our Verdict
Better than the previous $100 bonus, requirements are basically the same but it’s for $150 instead of $100 and it pays out over two months instead of five months. I feel like I’m missing something as this bonus is so much better. Looks like if you open a TS GO account there are no fees or minimum requirements, although there is a $10 trading charge if you use the desktop platform so better to use the web/mobile app. We will add this to our list of the best brokerage bonuses.
Hat tip to reader scott
Submitted CFPB complaint for bait and switch. Will report back
“We are in receipt of your complaint filed with the CFPB. This complaint was reviewed by management. The promotion you had applied for had expired several months prior and was not a valid promotion at the time of your application. As your account has not yet funded, and due to the promotion having expired several months prior, we will not be able to apply this promotion to your unfunded account.”
FWIW – Personally, I wouldn’t bother with CFPB for next four years. Possibly better approach:
Take a look at your account agreement, for terms related to disputes. Almost all agreements will have binding arbitration clauses, which also set out terms for notice, filing, etc. At least half of ones I have looked at provide that the bank/broker will pay the customer’s filing fees.
So: Write bank/broker a letter outlining the dispute, the amount demanded etc, and tell them you intend to file arb claim. Many will respond with a settlement offer. If they don’t, go to arbitration.
ETA: If you really did miss a deadline, fail to satisfy requirements, etc., chalk it up & move one. Just, like, my opinion, man.
year old post
oops
why is it pinned?
So that we don’t forget.
Also, I would certainly file CFPB before going the legal route. Less hassle and actually shows those in charge that the CFPB is still useful. Also, when you file w some orgs, like BBB, they ask if it’s in litigation. They won’t intervene if it is.
I also think that we need to get these things on record so that they’re held accountable and/or others are warned. If you settle, they can make you sign an NDA and no one will know about their dirty deeds.
God strategy.
Although, the consumer-advantage heyday for arbitration is long passed. Back in the day, you could usually get a quick $1,000-2,000 settlement from just a demand letter. Lending institutions hated the arbitration process for small claims, and would pay a nuisance settlement to avoid the hassle.Some of us were filing a few dozen of them a month.
AAA and JAMS are more business friendly these days, so some companies will put up a big fight to deter word getting out that they are easy marks for arbitration shakedowns.
There is also a consumer blacklist at AAA, and they will not accept cases from repeat filers unless the consumer gets a court order compelling arbitration.
“a few dozen a month” are you a crook?
I like the way they think! They’ve got moxy!
See my reply below to Jack.
It all began because the lenders and other companies were the crooks. They, essentially, purchased a private legal system and used it against consumers.
2005-2009 is when the consumer gold rush happened. But the cause of it dates back a lot earlier.
Lenders knew they had near-absolute immunity from lawsuits because of the National Arbitration Forum debacle.
NAF was in most credit card agreements at the time, and they were rubber-stamping awards against consumers for debts + massive additional fees.
For example, if you couldn’t pay your $500 Cap1 bill, you would eventually end up with a $5,000 arbitration award that would be converted into a court judgment, wage garnishment, etc. Cap1’s business model back then was to give out small credit lines to people they knew would default, and multiply them by 10 or more via the scam. Then attach their wages for decades.
In addition, if a consumer sued a lender for a consumer law violation, the case would be moved to NAF where it would die. Courts had no choice but to move the case to NAF because of the Federal Arbitration Act.
As it turned out, NAF was indirectly owned by one of the nation’s largest collection agencies. It was an outright scam against consumers. The arbitrators were paid off to find for the companies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_(alternative_dispute_resolution)
Many consumers made $100,000+ a year, and some made millions, by using the arbitration agreements against companies which violated consumer protection laws on purpose. Most of the contracts contained a choice between NAF and AAA or JAMS. AAA and JAMS were more honest, and were expensive for the companies because they had to pay most or all of the arbitration costs. So if a consumer filed a case in AAA or JAMS, the companies would settle to avoid the costs.
Most companies were caught off guard by this situation. But, eventually, they learned to re-write their arbitration clauses to put an end to much of it.
Even so, consumer arbitration through AAA or JAMS is still a powerful leverage to use for small cases against companies with arbitration clauses in their contracts.
For those that used $150 promo code BRCTAFZN, here is a web capture to keep them honest: https://archive.is/Td9TS
Turns out they used that same promo code in 2022… I seem to recall a lot of people having issues getting paid last time they resurrected an old code.
https://web.archive.org/web/20220527193133/https://www.tradestation.com/promo/barchart-5/
Out of curiosity on the web site currently I’m seeing $50 for $500. Wasn’t it $150 for $500 a few days ago? Or am I going crazy? I saved a screenshot somewhere but still need to locate it lol
Just to add.. I did call TradeStation to confirm BRCTAFZN is attached to my account but funny enough the Promotions Department was unable to confirm the terms of this promo code.. lol they were only able to verify that it’s attached to my account.. so that’s bad / good.
You are not going crazy. The $150 offer was taken down. What you see is a different, much worse offer.
See my reply to Autumn.
I now see that you marked the offer as “Expired” at some point. However, you usually provide an update on top that the offer has ended, in addition to updating the title, so that’s where I looked before making this comment.
So what now just keep $500 in there without investing and get 2x$75?
Yes or you can choose to invest it. I invested it in sgov for a little bit of interest
Successfully opened the account and set up an initial funding transfer of $501.
I can’t seem to log into their app though, might have to call them to get into it.
My question:
Does it matter what account I fund with $500 OR do I need to fund both accounts they opened with $500??
When I opened my account with them they opened a Future and Equity account for me. I only funded the Equity (Stock) account with the $500 and didn’t put anything into the other one.
I should still get the bonus correct?
Yes, just funding the Equity account should suffice.
Inactivity Fee$10 per month
(FREE if account meets minimum activity)
Inactivity Fee Minimum Activity
Accounts qualify for a monthly inactivity fee waiver when the following criteria are met: $5,000 average end-of-month equity balance OR at least ten (10) trades placed during the previous 90-day period.
I just asked through chat. You get a 90 day grace period and then if you don’t do 10 trades or deposit an additional $4500, you get hit with a monthly inactivity fee.
That’s good to know that they still have a grace period. Last time, I think that I avoided any fees by closing my account soon after receiving the bonus.
When I need fund account after opened? Thanks!
Approved easily. Willing to risk doing business with a shitty company for an easy $150.
Can the $ sit in the account or do I actually have to invest?
pretty sure just needs funding
There is no requirement to invest the funds. In fact, during each of my previous churns, I kept the money in cash and received the bonus each time.
Do I need to put $500 in every account they opened for me? Or am I fine only putting $500 in one of the accounts?
What other accounts did you open besides the Brokerage account?
Only the brokerage accounts
Equities & Futures, I put the 500 in Equities
You should be good to go.
I did once before and just left in cash. Attempting again and planning to buy SGOV for an extra no risk 4%. A couple extra bucks for a few clicks, but your choice.
Just a precaution, after the first 90 days, your account will start to be evaluated for inactivity fee of $10 per month if you do not have $5,000 average end-of-month equity balance OR at least ten (10) trades placed during the previous 90-day period. If you fund your account this month, you have to maintain it through April to get your first $75 payout in April and your second $75 payout in May. Unless you time it well and act promptly, you may be charged an inactivity fee in your May statement. You can easily make 10 trades during March-April to avoid potential charges of inactivity fee as you are waiting for the bonus.
I plan to apply near the end of a calendar month to maximize my chance of avoiding fees, if I end up getting approved.
I applied last year but forgot to fund so I didn’t receive the reward. Can I close the account and open again to get the bonus?
My wife opened an account but never funded this time last year (they changed the terms and said on the phone they wouldn’t honor the old terms). Asked them over chat today if my wife was eligible for this promo since she never funded account.
Rep said he applied the bonus to the old account and I just need to fund the account before the 19th because it would be closed after 12 months of no funding.
There’s an option to email the transcript of the chat.
Does this one pull Chex?
Brokerages don’t pull Chex.
Aa
Thanks!
tradestation charges $20 a month for data