If you live in the Netherlands and have money sitting in a current account earning next to nothing, Trade Republic is worth your attention. It lets you invest in stocks, ETFs, and bonds — and pays 3% interest per year for new customers on cash you haven’t invested yet, all from your phone, with no fees.
What is Trade Republic?
Trade Republic is a German broker supervised by the Deutsche Bundesbank and BaFin (the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority). It holds client funds through banks like Citibank and Deutsche Bank, and has held a full banking licence since 2023 — meaning your cash is protected up to €100,000 under the European deposit guarantee scheme.
Earn 3% interest on your uninvested cash (new customers)
Any money sitting in your Trade Republic account — even before you invest it — earns 3% interest per year for new customers, paid monthly. No minimum term, no account fees, no strings attached. It applies automatically to all cash in your account from day one.
To put that in perspective: most Dutch savings accounts pay 1.5–2.5% right now (as of 2026). Trade Republic matches or beats most of them while also giving you access to thousands of investment products. If you want to compare, check our updated table: The banks with the highest interest rates in the Netherlands 2026.
What can I invest in?
On Trade Republic you can buy stocks, ETFs, and bonds. The catalogue includes over 7,500 shares and more than 2,000 ETFs. They also have a solid selection of corporate and government bonds, easier to buy here than on most other platforms.
A particularly useful feature for beginners is fractional shares: you can invest from as little as €1 in any company, regardless of the share price.
How much does it cost?
Trade Republic charges just €1 per transaction for manual trades — no account management fees, no market connection costs. ETF savings plans (Sparplan) are free. For small investors, this matters a lot compared to brokers that charge €5–€10 per trade.
How do I get started?
Download the app using this referral link. Registration is straightforward: upload your ID (passport, identity card, or residence permit), take a selfie, and provide your BSN number. Trade Republic connects your account with the Belastingdienst automatically for your annual tax declaration.
To deposit funds, use a bank transfer (free) or a Visa/Mastercard credit card (free the first time, then 0.7%). As soon as money arrives in your account, it starts earning 3% — whether you invest it or not.
If you’re looking for an even simpler way to get started, also check out our guide on investment accounts for beginners.
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