This FBS broker review covers spreads, accounts, regulation and safety, including up to 1:3000 leverage and a $5 minimum deposit.
Key facts
- Leverage up to 1:3000 and a $5 minimum deposit.
- Over 27 million clients in more than 150 countries. The brand entered the forex market in 2009.
- EUR/USD spread starts at 0.7 pips on the Standard account. Withdrawals carry no fee under the broker's policy.
- Seven account types, with both fixed and floating spreads.
- Licences held by different entities: CySEC, ASIC, FSCA (South Africa) and Belize.
Risk warning: trading forex/CFDs is risky, and bonuses come with conditions. Never trade money you cannot afford to lose.
This page looks at FBS broker in plain terms. You will see how its spreads work, which accounts it offers, and how regulation differs by region. Use it to decide if this broker fits your needs.
FBS Broker Review: What Is FBS and Who Is It For?
FBS is a multi-entity broker. Different legal entities serve different regions. FBS Markets Inc. is the main entity for non-EU clients and operates from Belize. It has registration number 000001317 and a Financial Services Commission licence (Securities Industry Act 2021) with number 4077102.
Company background
The brand entered the forex market in 2009. It attracted more than 50,000 clients in its first year. Today it serves over 27 million traders in more than 150 countries.
Tradestone Limited represents FBS for European traders. It is registered in Cyprus under number HE 353534 and holds CySEC licence 331/17. European operations began in 2017.
FBS also received a licence from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority of South Africa in 2020 (number 50885). It secured ASIC authorization during the same expansion period.
Beginners to advanced traders
FBS aims at all experience levels. The Cent account suits beginners who want to trade in cents and learn with small amounts.
FBS also offers standard accounts for traders with some experience. These need higher deposits but give lower spreads and more tools. Advanced traders can use ECN accounts with direct market access.
The Education Center has articles, videos and tutorials. FBS also runs webinars, live sessions and a Trading Academy covering trading steps, risk management and analysis.
Availability and restrictions
FBS Markets Inc. says it does not serve residents of the USA, the EU, the UK, Israel, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Myanmar. Its terms also exclude Afghanistan, Cuba, Eritrea, Honduras, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, North Korea, Palestine, Russian Federation, Serbia, South Korea, South Sudan, Sudan and Syrian Arab Republic.
European Economic Area residents cannot use the main FBS.com platform. They use fbs.eu, which Tradestone Ltd runs under CySEC regulation. Supported regions include Canada, Indonesia, Poland, Germany, Spain, France, Nigeria, Malaysia, Brazil, Italy, South Africa, Pakistan, Australia, Mexico, Philippines and Thailand. Lists can differ by entity, so check the terms for your country.
Regulation and Safety
ASIC, CySEC and FSC licensing
Intelligent Financial Markets Pty Ltd handles Australian operations. ASIC authorized it in 2012, and ASIC is a tier-1 regulator.
Tradestone Ltd holds CySEC licence 331/17, issued on August 7, 2017. It follows MiFID II rules and is a member of the Investor Compensation Fund of Cyprus.
FBS Markets Inc. is also listed under the International Financial Services Commission of Belize, licence 000102/6. This regulator is less strict than CySEC or ASIC, though it still oversees anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures.
Client fund segregation
FBS says client funds are kept apart from company funds in separate bank accounts. Segregated funds should stay unaffected if the broker becomes insolvent. CySEC requires this for all its brokers, and ASIC enforces segregation rules for Australian operations.
CySEC-regulated clients may get Investor Compensation Fund cover of up to €20,000 per client. Traders outside the EU do not receive this protection.
Negative balance protection
Negative balance protection stops retail traders losing more than their deposit. FBS provides it for retail clients under its EU operations. ESMA rules also set leverage limits from 30:1 down to 2:1 and a margin closeout at 50% of minimum required margin for Tradestone Ltd clients.
Entities outside these regions may not offer this protection unless they choose to. Check your own entity's terms before trading.
FBS Spreads: What the Numbers Show
Fixed and floating spreads
FBS has seven account types. Standard and Cent accounts use floating spreads and no commission on live accounts. Spreads can widen in volatile or off-peak periods.
The Micro account has fixed spreads from 3 pips. The Zero Spread account has a fixed 0 pip spread, but costs are structured differently. The Pro account has floating spreads from 0.3 pips. The ECN account starts from -1 pip, and the broker charges a commission to offset this.
EUR/USD spreads by account
| Account | EUR/USD spread |
|---|---|
| Standard | From 0.7 pips (max 1.3, typically about 1) |
| Cent | 0.9 pips |
| Pro | 0.6 pips |
| ECN | 0 pips plus $6 commission per lot |
FBS advertises spreads as low as 0.5 pips on its trading conditions page. Real spreads move with liquidity. Check the live spread in MetaTrader or the FBS app before opening a trade.
How FBS compares
FBS sits in the average to high range. A 0.9 pip EUR/USD spread compares poorly with a market average of 0.6 pips across 50+ brokers. GBP/USD at 1.2 pips and AUD/USD at 1.2 pips are average. EUR/CHF at 1.4 pips ranks low relative to competitors.
Stock CFDs carry a 0.7% commission on top of the spread, based on order value. Traders using services like HighFxRebates can get cashback of up to 27% of the spread, paid weekly.
Bonuses and Related Reading
If you want to compare promotions, see the FBS Inc 100% forex deposit bonus and the FBS $50 no deposit bonus. Always read the withdrawal and trading conditions first. You may also like our story on Forex4you rebranding as Markets4you.
FAQ
What is the minimum deposit at FBS?
The source gives a $5 minimum deposit with leverage up to 1:3000. Limits can vary by account and entity, so confirm on the broker's site.
Is FBS regulated?
Different entities hold licences from CySEC, ASIC, South Africa's FSCA and Belize authorities. Your protection depends on which entity serves you.
Are FBS spreads low?
They are average to high. EUR/USD starts at 0.7 pips on Standard, and Pro and ECN accounts offer tighter pricing, with commission on ECN.
Can EU residents use FBS?
Not through FBS.com. EEA clients use fbs.eu, run by Tradestone Ltd under CySEC regulation.
