DEGIRO

DEGIRO, established in Amsterdam in 2008, operates as an online brokerage firm targeting retail investors across Europe. Initially, the company was founded by a group of five former employees of Binck Bank to provide services to the professional market. The founders leveraged their backgrounds in banking to address a gap in the market. In 2013, DEGIRO expanded its services to retail clients in the Netherlands, marking a significant milestone. The firm's growth continued with expansion into nine other European countries in 2014 and a launch in the UK in 2015.

A major turning point in the company's history was its acquisition by the German online broker flatex AG. The deal was announced in December 2019 and finalized in July 2020, leading to the creation of flatexDEGIRO Bank AG and one of Europe's largest online brokers. This merger allowed DEGIRO to benefit from a banking license and offer enhanced services like proper bank cash accounts. The DEGIRO brand was retained post-acquisition, and the combined entity was listed on the SDAX.

The company operates on an execution-only brokerage model, focusing on providing a robust platform for trading rather than advisory services. Its revenue model is primarily based on transaction fees and currency conversion fees. DEGIRO also earns revenue from a connectivity fee of €2.50 per year for each stock exchange a client trades on, though the home exchange is typically exempt. For German clients, the company participates in Payment for Order Flow (PFOF).

DEGIRO provides access to a wide array of financial products, including stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, and investment funds across more than 50 exchanges in 30 countries. The platform is designed to be user-friendly for both novice and experienced investors, offering features like real-time quotes, interactive charts, and financial news. Clients can choose from different account types, such as Basic, Active, and Day Trader, which offer varying levels of access to margin trading and leverage. A key feature is the ETF Core Selection, which allows commission-free trading on a curated list of over 200 ETFs, although a €1.00 handling fee per trade applies.

Keywords: online brokerage, retail investors, stock trading, ETF investing, European markets, low-cost broker, execution-only, flatexDEGIRO, financial platform, global exchanges, investment services, securities trading, Amsterdam, discount broker, online trading, financial technology, pan-European broker, investment funds, options trading, futures trading