Widely known in Germany and now serving over 10 million users across 18 European countries, Trade Republic has attracted attention from Maltese investors thanks to its interest on cash (2.5% a year in Germany at the time of writing, variable), its simple app and its low fees. Its customers hold more than €150 billion of assets with the company.
Want to know if Trade Republic is available in Malta, what its expansion plans are, and which alternatives are available to Maltese investors? We have got you covered.
Is Trade Republic available in Malta? 🇲🇹
No, Trade Republic is not currently available in Malta.
Trade Republic continues to expand in Europe. It holds a full banking licence granted by the ECB (European Central Bank) in December 2023 and operates through Trade Republic Bank GmbH, supervised by BaFin (Germany’s financial regulator) and the Bundesbank. However, it has not announced any plans to enter the Maltese market.
We attempted to open an account, and Malta appeared among the unsupported countries:
Trade Republic’s expansion has so far focused on larger eurozone markets. Malta uses the euro and falls under the same EU MiFID II (Markets in Financial Instruments Directive) rules, so a launch is possible in the future, but there is no date.
Where is Trade Republic available? 🌎
Trade Republic says it serves more than 10 million customers in 18 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
Trade Republic alternatives in Malta
- Interactive Brokers: Best for experienced investors
- eToro: Best for social trading and ETFs
- Trading 212: The closest alternative, with no commission (other fees may apply, see terms and fees). New users can get a free fractional share.
- Lightyear: Best for beginners and interest
55% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Capital at Risk. Sponsored Link. To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR/GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link. Terms apply.
Terms apply, seek guidance if necessary. When you invest, your capital is at risk.
eToro: eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Trading 212: A 0.15% FX fee applies when converting funds. Other fees may apply. When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results. *Sponsored Link: To get a free fractional share worth up to €100, you can open an account with Trading 212 through our sponsored link or with the promo code “IITW”. The value is random: there is an 80% chance it is worth €8 to €25, 15% for €25.01 to €50, 3% for €50.01 to €75 and 2% for €75.01 to €100. Terms apply.
Lightyear: Investing involves risk. Money market funds are investments, and their rates are variable. See full T&Cs.
Conclusion
You cannot open a Trade Republic account from Malta at the moment. Trading 212 is the closest match for a simple, low-cost app, Interactive Brokers suits experienced investors who want the widest choice of markets, eToro suits social trading and Lightyear suits beginners.
A few points worth carrying into your decision:
- Regulation: these brokers serve Maltese clients from other EU countries under MiFID II passporting, rather than with a licence from the MFSA (Malta Financial Services Authority). Check which entity holds your account, since its home country’s investor compensation scheme applies, usually up to €20,000.
- Currency: Malta uses the euro, so check whether the broker lets you hold EUR. If your account is in USD, you pay a conversion fee on deposits and withdrawals.
- Tax reporting: foreign brokers do not withhold Maltese tax at source, so declaring your investment income to the Commissioner for Revenue is up to you. Keep clear records of purchase dates and prices.
If none is a match, you can also browse our comparison of online brokers by country.
Risk disclaimer: When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
FAQs
What is Trade Republic?
Founded in 2015 in Berlin, Trade Republic is an investment app and bank that lets you invest in stocks, ETFs, bonds, derivatives and crypto, including through savings plans, from €1. It also offers a card with 1% Saveback and interest on cash. It has more than 10 million customers in 18 countries, holding more than €150 billion of assets. Trade Republic Bank GmbH is supervised by BaFin and the Bundesbank, and cash deposits are protected by the German deposit guarantee scheme up to €100,000.
How does Trade Republic make money?
Trade Republic earns money from a mix of sources: a flat €1 external cost fee on most trades, interest earned on customer cash (it passes part of this on as interest), card fees from merchants, and payments from trading venues. That last source, known as payment for order flow (PFOF), has been criticised because it can create a conflict of interest between the broker and its customers. The EU decided to ban PFOF, with a transition period that allowed some countries, including Germany, to keep it until 30 June 2026.
What is the closest Trade Republic alternative in Malta?
Trading 212 is the closest match. Like Trade Republic, it has a simple app, fractional shares and no commission (other fees may apply, see terms and fees). A 0.15% FX fee applies when converting funds. Other fees may apply. When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.
Can I keep my Trade Republic account if I move to Malta?
Trade Republic accounts are for residents of the countries it serves. If you move to Malta, contact Trade Republic before you move, as it may ask you to close the account or transfer your securities to another broker.
Is my money protected with these alternatives?
The brokers above are regulated in the EU. If a broker fails, its home country investor compensation scheme can cover eligible investments, usually up to €20,000. This protection does not cover losses from falling markets.
