Charles Schwab vs E*TRADE bonuses

As of Jul 21, 2026, Charles Schwab has 2 live sign-up bonuses, up to $1,000. E*TRADE has 3, up to $1,500. Here is how they compare, verified against each institution's own terms.

The quick take. E*TRADE has the bigger headline bonus right now ($1,500). E*TRADE gives you more offers to choose from. The best pick is the one whose requirement you can actually meet, so weigh the figures below against your own cash and direct deposit.

At a glance

	Charles Schwab	E*TRADE
Live sign-up bonuses	2	3
Biggest cash bonus	$1,000	$1,500
Bonus types	brokerage	brokerage, bank
ChexSystems	Not applicable	Not applicable
Credit pull	None for brokerage	None for brokerage
Eligibility	New-money bonus; re-verify tier + holding period	Transfer bonus: new-to-firm money, tiered by amount

Current offers

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab Brokerage Account$1,000

$500,000+ net deposit within 45 days of enrolling via · sign-up bonus

Charles Schwab Schwab Starter Kit$50 in stock

Deposit $50+ within 30 days of opening · sign-up bonus

E*TRADE

E*TRADE Brokerage Accountup to $1,500

New money in 60 days, tiered $1,000 to $5M (OFFER26) · sign-up bonus

E*TRADE Premium Savings Account$400

Deposit $20,000+ new money within 30 days · sign-up bonus

E*TRADE Premium Savings4.00% APY

No minimum balance; open by 9/30/26 for the intro rate

What to know about each

Charles Schwab

A major brokerage running low-hurdle new-account offers (often paid in stock) plus larger referral bonuses; re-verify the current terms.

E*TRADE

Morgan Stanley's self-directed brokerage runs a standing tiered new-money transfer bonus. Re-verify the current tier table and the required holding period on the source page before relying on the figures.

Common questions

Which has the bigger sign-up bonus, Charles Schwab or E*TRADE?

E*TRADE has the bigger cash bonus right now, at $1,500. Figures change; both are checked against the source and shown above with the date.

Is Charles Schwab or E*TRADE better for a sign-up bonus?

The better pick is the offer whose requirement you can actually meet. E*TRADE currently gives you more offers to choose from. Weigh each bonus against the deposit or spend it needs, not just the headline number.

New to this? Start with how bank sign-up bonuses work, weigh both by value with the easiest to earn list, and see more head-to-heads on the compare page. Reference information, not financial advice.