Restricted Countries
Australian residents only; U.S. Persons and non-Australian residents barred from International Shares; other custodian country restrictions may apply
Source Brokers
CommSec is Commonwealth Bank of Australia's online investing platform, focused on Australian residents trading ASX shares and ETFs, international shares across 13 markets, exchange-traded options, margin lending and related cash accounts. It is bank-backed, AFSL-regulated and best suited to Australian investors who value CHESS-sponsored Australian holdings, integrated CBA settlement and broad educational/research tools over ultra-low-cost international trading.
Etf BrokerOptions BrokerMulti Asset BrokerBank Investment PlatformEtfOptionBondMutual FundCash Savings
80
/100
Overall score
Overall score is usable, but check the supporting evidence and caveats.
Based on evidence24 sources
Trust
88Cost
64Withdrawal
82Read first
Decision summary
80
/100
Overall
Overall is usable, but check the supporting evidence and caveats.
Headline score from research fields, regulation evidence, and scoring payload.
Best for
Australian retail investors · CommBank customers wanting CDIA settlement integration · ASX shares and ETF investors
Watch out
Entity, country restrictions, and high-risk fee fields should be checked carefully.
Trust signal
Trust looks strong, with high-confidence evidence. Still verify country/entity terms.
Withdrawal signal
Withdrawal is usable, but check the supporting evidence and caveats.
Availability
Countries and restrictions
Availability can vary by legal entity, account type, and local regulation. Treat this as a shortlist signal and verify details with the broker before opening an account.
Evidence
Source-backed details
Trust5 fields
Regulators
ASIC AFSL; market participant of ASX and Cboe Australia; clearing participant of ASX Clear; settlement participant of ASX Settlement
SourceLicense Numbers
AFSL 238814; ABN 60 067 254 399; Share Direct AR Ref 274819; CBA AFSL 234945
SourceRegulated Entities
Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814; Share Direct Nominees Pty Limited AR 274819; Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945
SourceNegative Balance Protection
No CFD/FX negative-balance-protection regime identified; margin lending can involve margin calls and sale of collateral if obligations are not met.
SourceInvestor Compensation
No explicit investor compensation scheme found in reviewed official CommSec pages; Australian CHESS/market protections and CBA deposit guarantees, if applicable, require product-specific review.
SourceCost7 fields
Minimum Deposit
Free account opening/no ongoing account-keeping fees; Pocket minimum investment $50; standard ETF minimum $500; margin loan minimum credit limit $20,000; no ordinary share-trading cash minimum disclosed.
SourceSpread From
CommSec is primarily a listed-securities broker; official sources disclose brokerage/fees rather than FX/CFD-style spreads.
SourceCommission
Australian shares from AUD $5 online/CDIA; Pocket from AUD $2; U.S. international from USD $5 or 0.12%; non-U.S. international market minimums; ETO online from AUD $34.95 plus contract fees
SourceMaximum Leverage
Margin Loan borrowing depends on approved investments/LVR; no single maximum leverage ratio disclosed on reviewed public pages.
SourceDeposit Fee
No CDIA account-keeping or electronic transaction fees; online transfers/direct debits and CBA ATM withdrawals free; International instant funding AUD $0.00
SourceWithdrawal Fee
CDIA electronic withdrawals free; International ACATS $0; US DRS transfer-out USD $5; DRS/transfer-in fees may apply
SourceInactivity Fee
Inactivity Fee AUD $0.00
SourceAvailability1 fields
Restricted Countries
Australian residents only; U.S. Persons and non-Australian residents barred from International Shares; other custodian country restrictions may apply
SourceProduct5 fields
Tradable Assets
Australian and international shares, ETFs, options, warrants, fixed income/bonds, managed funds via margin lending, cash products
SourceTrading Platforms
Website, CommSec app, CommBank app/Pocket, CommSecIRESS and phone
SourceAccount Types
Australian shares, international shares/Plus, options, margin lending, Pocket, minor trust, SMSF, CDIA and Notice Investor
SourceDeposit Methods
CDIA/NetBank linked transfers, external bank transfer to CDIA, CBA ATM/branch deposits, AUD International Wallet transfers
SourceWithdrawal Methods
CDIA transfer via NetBank; CDIA branch/ATM access; international account withdrawals in AUD only
SourceBefore you decide
Things to verify
Minimum Deposit
Free account opening/no ongoing account-keeping fees; Pocket minimum investment $50; standard ETF minimum $500; margin loan minimum credit limit $20,000; no ordinary share-trading cash minimum disclosed.
Withdrawal Fee
CDIA electronic withdrawals free; International ACATS $0; US DRS transfer-out USD $5; DRS/transfer-in fees may apply
Negative Balance Protection
No CFD/FX negative-balance-protection regime identified; margin lending can involve margin calls and sale of collateral if obligations are not met.
Investor Compensation
No explicit investor compensation scheme found in reviewed official CommSec pages; Australian CHESS/market protections and CBA deposit guarantees, if applicable, require product-specific review.
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Broker research, not investment advice
Availability, fees, investor protection, and regulation can vary by country and legal entity. Verify the broker and regulator details directly before opening an account.