Brokerage bonus
Charles Schwab · Referral offer (needs a Schwab client’s referral code)
No end date
The terms
| Bonus | $100 at $25,000 · $300 at $50,000 · $500 at $100,000 · $1,000 at $500,000 |
|---|---|
| Accounts | Taxable or IRA |
| Code | Referral code |
| Money must stay | Deposit within 45 days; taxable accounts keep it 1 year |
| Paid as | Cash |
| Ends | No end date stated |
How to actually get it
- Get a referral code from an existing Schwab client and enter it when opening.
- Make a qualifying net deposit within 45 days of enrolling.
- Schwab deposits the award about a week after the 45-day period.
- Taxable accounts: keep it for 1 year.
Catches
- You need a real referral from someone you know; CashWars has no referral code.
- Net deposits = money in minus money out.
| Early-closure fee | Not stated on the offer page. Keep the account open until the bonus posts. |
|---|---|
| ChexSystems / credit pull | Not stated by the broker. |
| Taxes | Schwab reports taxable-account awards on Form 1099-INT. |
From https://www.schwab.com/referral, checked 2026-10-24. Confirm on the broker's page before you open.
In their own words
$1,000 when you net deposit $500,000 or more; $500 when you net deposit $100,000 - $499,999; $300 when you net deposit $50,000 - $99,999; $100 when you net deposit $25,000 - $49,999. ... For taxable accounts, you must maintain the net deposit amount (less any market losses) at Schwab for at least one year or Schwab may charge back the bonus award.
Quoted from https://www.schwab.com/referral, checked 2026-10-24.
See the offer at Charles SchwabBattle math
| Deposit | You keep | % of deposit | Annualized (ref.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | — | — | — |
| $5,000 | — | — | — |
| $25,000 | +$100 | 0.40% | 0.36% |
| $100,000 | +$500 | 0.50% | 0.45% |
| $250,000 | +$500 | 0.20% | 0.18% |
How we rank brokerage bonuses: by the dollars you keep, which is the bonus the broker pays for your deposit. The grey annualized figure is shown for reference only. Market gains or losses are not included, because they're yours either way. Stock bonuses are counted at the dollar value the broker states. Matches paid in installments are counted over the full payout period. Ties go to the shorter time your money must stay.
Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Brokerage accounts are not FDIC insured. Bonuses only require that your money stays in the account; you can usually hold it as cash or a money-market fund. Bonuses are generally taxable. No crypto offers are listed.