FBS review – Should you sign up or not? – Broker test for traders

Certain internet brokers cannot be counted on. Many businesses have been established for the sole purpose of defrauding newcomers to the trading market. The fees that others charge are absurdly outrageous and ridiculous. Because of this, you need to give a lot of thought to a lot of different considerations before joining up with an online broker.

In this review, we will concentrate on FBS. Is the broker legitimate, and can you put your faith in them? Continue reading to get the knowledge that will assist you in determining whether or not this broker is suitable for your needs.

What is FBS? – Quick facts about the company

FBS is a worldwide broker brand with its headquarters in Cyprus, an office in Belize, and a presence in more than one hundred countries. The online brokerage was established in 2009. Customers are treated with respect at the FBS-affiliated independent businesses, which allow them to trade a diverse variety of assets, including CFDs and Margin FX. These firms are unified under the FBS brand name.

More than 23 million traders from more than 150 countries use the platform provided by FBS. These traders come from countries like South Africa, Malaysia, Pakistan, Europe, and many more. The firm has been honoured with a great number of major accolades, including “Best Forex Broker Southeast Asia“, “Best FX IB Programs,” “Most Progressive Forex Broker,” and a great deal more.

Facts about FBS:

• Established in 2009
• Has a presence in more than 150 countries
• Caters to 23 million active traders
• Has over 400,000 partners
• More than ten prestigious awards
• Upwards of 500 million in annual profit of all FBS clients

Regulations: – Is FBS regulated?

In addition to other organizations associated with this broker, FBS is regulated in several countries worldwide. The International Financial Services Commission of Belize (IFSC) is the regulatory body that oversees the international brand. 

CySEC, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, is the regulatory body that oversees the company’s operations inside the EU. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) are recognized licensing organizations for FBS. 

All of these regulatory agencies are accountable for ensuring that FBS’s operations and the services it provides are appropriately supervised. Because of this, FBS may be considered a legitimate broker. The license numbers that were granted to FBS by these companies are detailed below for your convenience.

• Financial Sector Conduct Authority – 50885
• International Financial Services Commission of Belize – 000102/198
• Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission – 331/17
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission – 426359

Security measures for traders and your money 

FBS makes use of TLS, which stands for “transport layer security”, to protect the confidentiality of every one of its customers. All of the client’s financial and transactional details are kept secure by this technology. Hackers and other unauthorized third parties are prevented from obtaining critical information as a result.

To maintain the highest level of safety, FBS’s technical assistance has also been transferred to a Virtual Private Network that is both more secure and secure. IDS stands for intrusion detection system, which is the name of the cutting-edge security system that the corporation finally deployed. Comparable to the security provided by the transport layer, this provides an additional layer of defense against unauthorized third parties.

Review of the offers and FBS trading conditions 

When it comes to diversifying their portfolios, FBS customers have access to a wide variety of online assets to choose from. The following is a list of the assets that may be traded on FBS’s trading platform:

Forex Pairs

FBS offers more than 50 leveraged currency pairs, including minor and major pairs. Some examples of the available currency pairs are NZD/USD, USD/JPY, NZD/JPY, GBP/NZD, EUR/JPY, GBP/AUD, and many more.

The minimal spread of each forex pair is different. For example, the AUD/CHF pair has a minimum spread of 1.2, while the AUD/JPY pair has a minimum spread of 1.8. A full list of the minimum spreads of each of the available forex pairs can be found on the FBS website under the Forex tab.

Metals:

The tradeable metals on FBS’ platform are Silver or XAGUSD and Gold Spot or XAUUSD. For Silver, the minimum spread is 20, and it can go up to 30. As for the Gold Spot asset, its spread starts at 16 and can reach up to 23.

Indices:

In total, there are 11 tradeable indices on the FBS trading platform. Examples of these are the NASDAQ and Dow Jones indices. The spreads differ per indices. The NASDAQ asset has a spread of 180, while the Dow Jones index has a spread of 550. A complete list of the Indices, as well as their spreads, is available on the FBS website.

Energies:

FBS offers three Energy assets (commodities) on its platform. These are the Brent Crude Oil or XBRUSD, Natural Gas or XNGUSD, and WTI Crude Oil or XTIUSD. The spread for both Brent Crude Oil and WTI Crude Oil is five, while the Natural Gas spread can go up to 14.

Exotic Forex Pairs:

This online brokerage also offers exotic pairs to its clients. The exotic pairs available are CNH/JPY, EUR/CNH, EUR/TRY, USD/BRL, USD/CNH, USD/MXN, USD/RUB, USD/TRY, and USD/ZAR. The minimum and typical spreads differ on each of these exotic pairs. You can find a complete list along with the information on spreads on the FBS website.

Stocks:

Stocks are available for trading in the FBS trading platform. 40 German, 30 United Kingdom, and 40 United States stocks are available. Some of the popular stocks available include Amazon, Coca-Cola Global, Facebook, Intel Corp, Moderna, Netflix, Nike, and Tesla. 

The minimal and typical spreads of each of the stocks available are different. However, some of the stocks have a minimum spread of as low as one while others is as high as 100. You can take a look at the complete list of stocks and their corresponding spreads on the FBS website under the Stocks tab.

Crypto

Cryptocurrency is a new asset offered by FBS. The brokerage has a dedicated account designed only to cater to crypto traders. There are a total of 30 crypto coins on the platform and these can be traded on their own or against the US dollar.

Some of the coins available include Zcash, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Binance Coin, Dogecoin, Tron, Stellar, Ripple, and more. The spreads are quite high when it comes to crypto coins. The lowest spread is 54 and it can reach up to 50,000 depending on the crypto you are trading. Check out the list of crypto coins and their corresponding spreads on the FBS website.

Trading fees – How much does it cost to trade

Variations in FBS spreads depend on account type and geographic location. Euro/U.S. Dollar spreads for Micro, Standard, and Cent accounts range from 3.0 to 1.10 pip, with zero pip spreads available for ECN and Zero accounts. The identical spread of 0.7 pips applies to both Cent and Standard accounts while trading in the European Union.

The worldwide branch charges a flat fee rate of $20 per lot for Zero Spread accounts and $6 per lot for ECN accounts. Additionally, the commission for stock transactions is $3, and the commission for CFD trading is $25. A commission of 0.05% is deducted from the trader’s cryptocurrency trading account whenever a position is opened or closed.

FBS imposes overnight rollover costs and a $5 termination fee on trades that take advantage of pricing latency. Accounts that have been inactive for more than 180 days are subject to a monthly charge of €5.

The maximum amount of leverage that may be obtained varies depending on the kind of account and the branch. The broker allows for leverage of up to 1:30 for Cent and Standard accounts for customers located in the EU. It provides a maximum leverage of 1:500 for ECN accounts, 1:1000 for Cent accounts, and 1:3000 for other accounts worldwide.

For positions worth less than 40% of the account balance, FBS has the right to close a client’s open trade.

Test and review of the FBS trading platforms 

A non-dealing desk system, often known as an NDD, is used by the organization to facilitate the efficient and smooth execution of trades. This is one of the essential features that a trading platform needs to have in order to ensure that its customers do not lose out on potentially lucrative trading chances. An in-depth analysis of the various FBS trading platforms that are accessible may be found below. 

Web-based trading platform – MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5

In contrast to other brokers, FBS does not provide a web-based trading platform that is exclusively theirs. Instead, customers do their business on either the MetaTrader 4 or the MetaTrader 5 platform. It is equipped with all the tools and services available on the MT4 and MT5 platforms, respectively. Altering the placement of the tabs and charts as well as their dimensions is another way for you to personalize your workplace.

Copy trading, quick and simple executions, charting tools, and technical indicators are some features that can be found on the MT4 platform. On the other hand, the MT5 platform offers all of the services described in the previous paragraphs. On the other hand, it has more technical indicators, a greater number of periods and order types, a view of the market depth, and it allows for netting and hedging. 

Stop limit orders, stop orders, and market orders are the sorts of orders that may be placed. GTC, which stands for “Good ’til cancelled,” and GTT, which stands for “Good ’til time,” are the two order time restrictions that can be applied. In addition, you can set up price alerts, which will notify you if a certain asset reaches the price that you have specified as your objective.

Facts about the FBS webtrader:

• Available in 37 different languages
• The search function is excellent and easy to use
• You can customize your workspace and charts to suit your needs
• Supports Market, Limit, Stop, and Stop limit orders
• Available order limits are Good ’til canceled or GTC and Good ’til time or GTT
• You get reports on your FBS fees
• Features a clear portfolio

Mobile trading app (FBS Trader) 

The web-based FBS Trader software has a mobile counterpart called the FBS Trader app. This enables customers to do trades smoothly when they are on the go. The FBS Trader app is available for use on mobile devices operating on both Android and iOS. You may get the software from either the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and install it on your device.

Because of its intuitive user interface, it is an excellent choice as a platform for newbies and those just starting out. You won’t have any trouble locating the essential tools or assets to get the job done. One click is all it takes to get any and all of the relevant information. The web-based trading platform and this one are identical in their feature sets.

On the other hand, the mobile app does not allow you to create price alerts for yourself. In order to make up for this, however, the software has a trading mechanism that just requires one click, which makes it simple to carry out transactions while mobile.

Facts about the FBS mobile trader:

• Very user friendly
• Features a two-step verification process to log in for more security.
• Has an excellent search function.
• Supports Market, Limit, and Stop order types.

Desktop trading platform – MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5

The desktop trading platform (MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5) is compatible with any desktop device. This can be downloaded from FBS’ official website. It has the exact same features available on the web-based platform. The only difference is that you have to download this software whereas the web-based platform can be accessed from any browser. 

Facts about the FBS MetaTrader:

• Supports 34 languages
• Features clear fee reports
• You can fully customize the charts and your workspace
• You can enable price alerts
• Supports Market, Limit, Stop, and Stop limit orders

How to trade on the platform 

Trading on the desktop and web-based platforms is also very easy since the company utilizes the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platform. These two are very well-known platforms in the trading community, and there are many tutorial videos to help you get started.

To open a trade, you have to first select the asset you want to invest in. Once you have chosen an asset, fill out the necessary order details. This includes the order type, volume, stop loss and take profit. You can also add notes or reminders on each of these trades to help keep you on track. Once you have filled out all the necessary details, execute your trade.

How to trade Forex

The first step to trading forex is deciding which forex pair you want to trade and doing extensive research. You can’t simply open a trade just because your friends or family members told you that this specific forex pair is profitable. You have to decide for yourself based on the information you find when you conduct your own research.

After getting all the information you need, decide whether you want to sell or buy that specific forex pair. If you think the price will drop within the next couple of days, opt to sell. However, if you think it will increase and continue to grow, set up to buy that forex pair.

Next, stick to your risk management system and trading plan. You need to apply all the rules that you have set. Don’t get greedy and, most importantly, have patience.

Lastly, make sure to check the asset from time to time. Once it hits your target gain or it goes below your set price, decide whether you should keep the trade open or close the trade. This decision should be based on the market and your trading goals.

How to trade cryptocurrencies

Similar to trading forex, you have to pick crypto to invest in and do a bit of research on it. Check out its past prices and charts, and try to predict how it will move in the future. This is a bit more tricky compared to Forex since the crypto market is extremely volatile. This means the price can drop or increase by a significant amount in a matter of seconds.

It’s paramount that you take time to check the status of the cryptocurrency you want to invest in to know when to open a trade. Once you find a good time to enter the market, open your trade. Set a reminder to check on the trade every now and then so you can predict whether you can continue to hold your trade or if you should close it.

Keep in mind that the prices change every second. So don’t be alarmed if you start off on the negative side. You need to be patient when it comes to trading cryptocurrency. But you should also have a specific price to follow.

Set a price threshold. Let’s say you set it to -10% or +10%. Once it decreases or increases by 10%, immediately close your trade. Don’t worry about missing out on opportunities. It’s very easy to open up a new trade. It’s more important to follow your risk management system and set prices. 

How to trade stocks

Before executing a trade, you must understand how stock quotes work. The price of a share of stock responds to any news, changes in fundamentals or other factors, like technical analysis. Your understanding of the stock market may significantly improve if you educate yourself on the topics discussed here. This will assist you in determining the appropriate price at which to either enter or leave a trade.

Next, decide on the price. A bid price is the most money that you are prepared to spend to acquire a particular share of stock. The asking price is the exact opposite of the bid price. It is the bare minimum at which the trader is ready to sell the shares. Selecting the appropriate bid and asking prices is crucial for a successful trade. 

Familiarizing yourself with the technical and fundamental knowledge of stocks. The inherent worth of an asset is measured via fundamental analysis. It considers a number of different dynamics, including profits, costs, assets, and liabilities. On the other hand, technical analysis looks at the stock’s price and volume history to anticipate its future value.

You also have to familiarize yourself with stop loss. Volatility is an unavoidable feature of the stock market. Because of this, a novice trader needs to learn how to minimize losses before they occur. Setting a stop loss price before you execute a transaction is necessary to limit the amount of money you stand to lose. Your capital could take a big hit if you don’t set a stop loss.

FBS social trading: How to copy traders

Less experienced investors can ride on the expertise of top-performing traders and effortlessly achieve the same winning results through FBS copy trading. Launched in 2018,  their social trading platform FBS CopyTrade is fairly young with a modest 600 strategy providers to date.

• Beginner-friendly and easy to navigate
• Provides basic trader information
• Allows you to pick trading accounts with low spreads
• Comes with a risk-free special offer

Users need to create their profile on the mobile app to access the list of professional traders who are easily identifiable with their green “pro” marking. You can scroll through their success rate, number of “copiers,” how much they charge when you copy them, and other useful metrics to help you make an informed decision. The copy trading process is detailed below:

1. Download the FBS CopyTrade app on your mobile phone. Designate a PIN code and register your biometrics to facilitate your log-in. Note that you may also use an existing FBS trading app account for this activity.
2. Go to the Traders List. Here, you can view the return rate, strategy risk level, level of activity, closed order quantity, commission, maximum drawdown, and the number of subscribers of more than 600 managers. You can scroll using any of the three criteria tabs: wise choice, top-rated, and most popular, which you can add to your Favorites menu with your assigned nickname for easy reference.
3. Click on the specific trader profile. You can choose between the two action buttons at the bottom of the screen, namely: Copy and Risk-free. The difference for the latter is granting you a return in case you incur a loss from the initial trade.
4. The app will prompt you to configure your trade limits. You can set your investment amount, stop loss and take profit figures.
5. Once you’ve encoded the parameters, press Start Copying.

You can invest as little as 1 dollar and pick a stop loss option with risk limitation while replicating their moves sans the heavy lifting. The app also allows you to communicate with the trader and share trading ideas.

In return, the expert traders receive their commission on their account after a successful transaction, typically at 5% or based on their trading performance. Copiers and investors may eventually upgrade to trader status themselves simply by making their accounts visible in searches for trades that other users can copy.

While the mobile app is available on IOS and Android, it does not have a desktop version or a web-based platform where you can view your transactions on a wider screen. Nonetheless, the app itself is easy to navigate and provides you with a risk-free option to test it before diving in.

How to open your FBS trading account

The procedure of registering a trading account with FBS is quite simple and easy to understand once you get started. You won’t need more than five minutes to do this task at all.

To begin, go to the FBS website and look for the “Open Account” option in the top right-hand corner of the page. You will then be sent to a signup page, where you can create an account by providing your email address and complete name or by connecting your Apple ID, Google account, or Facebook account.

After registering for an account, you will be prompted to choose between a real account and a demo account to utilize. If you decide to go with a genuine account, FBS will provide you with a number of different account types from which to choose. Next, you will be prompted to choose the trading platform you want to use and the base currency for your account. You have the option of using either Euros or Dollars. The Australian dollar (AUD) may serve as the foundation currency for Australian merchants.

The very last thing you need to do is authenticate your account. You may do this by sending them an image of your passport or any other form of identification issued by the government through email. In order to verify the information that you provided, they will also ask for a power bill or a bank statement from you.

You will be able to begin trading any of the available assets on the FBS trading platform as soon as you have successfully confirmed your account, deposited cash into your account, and started trading any of the available assets.

Account types of FBS

When you sign up for an account with FBS, you will have a total of six different account types to choose from. These include the Cent account, the Micro account, the Standard account, the ECN account, and the Crypto account.

1. Cent Account
2. Micro Account
3. Standard Account
4. Zero Spread Account
5. ECN Account
6. Crypto Account

1. Cent Account 

The Cent account has a very low needed minimum deposit amount of merely one dollar. The spreads for this kind of account are variable and begin at one pip, and users of the Cent account may leverage their positions up to a maximum of 1:1000. Users of the Cent Account may open up to 200 positions, and the order volume ranges from 0.01% up to 1000 cent lots.

2. Micro Account

When opening a Micro Account, the minimum deposit that is needed is $5. This kind of account offers maximum leverage of 1:3000 and a spread that is always a set of 3 pip increments. Micro Accounts users can open up to 200 transactions, and the order volume ranges from 0.01 to 500 lots. 

3. Standard Account

The Standard Account is by far the most common and widely used form of account. The account type in question requires a minimum deposit of $100 to open it. The leverage that is offered goes all the way up to 1:3000, and the floating spreads start at 0.5 pip increments. It is possible to open anywhere from one to two hundred different transactions at the same time, and the order volume ranges from zero to five hundred lots.

4. Zero Spread Account

A minimum deposit of $500 is required in order to open a Zero Spread account. However, the fee is $20 for each lot, even though the spread is always 0. The maximum number of open positions that may be held at once is 200, and the highest leverage that can be used is up to 1:3000. Last but not least, the order volume ranges anywhere from 0 to 500 lots.

5. ECN Account

The ECN Account has the highest minimum deposit amount, which is currently set at $1,000. This makes it the most costly option. The fee is set at $6, and the spreads may drift anywhere from -1 pip to any other value. You have access to leverage of up to 1:500, and there is no limit on the number of open positions you may hold at any one time. The order volume ranges from 0.1 lots all the way up to 500.

6. Crypto Account

FBS provides traders who are simply interested in tracking cryptocurrencies with a separate account option. This kind of account features floating spreads that begin at only one pip, and the minimum deposit that is necessary to open it is simply one dollar. When initiating a position in crypto, account holders are assessed a fee of 0.05%, and account holders have assessed a commission of 0.5%when closing a position.

There is maximum allowed leverage of 1:5, and traders are permitted to open up to 200 positions. The order volume ranges from 0,01 to 500 lots.

Can you use a demo account on FBS? 

People interested in testing out FBS’s services or just wish to practice trading may do so via a demo account. You will be prompted to choose this option to access the sample account function during the account creation process. To use this service, there is no charge of any kind, and you are not required to make a cash deposit in order to do so.

The trading conditions and features of the Standard and Cent accounts are used in the demo account. When you join up for this sort of account, you immediately have access to the trading platform and are allowed to practice placing trades by making use of the virtual money that the broker supplies.

You will also get the opportunity to practice on a simulation platform that replicates real-world market conditions and pricing. This helps you get used to the movement of the market so that you will be better prepared for when you make the decision to start trading with real money.

How to login into your FBS trading account

You are able to access your FBS trading account by entering the credentials associated with your account. You also have the option of just clicking on the Facebook, Google, or Apple symbol that is located at the bottom of the sign-in page. Doing so will allow you to instantly enter your account using one of the aforementioned social network accounts.

Verification – What do you need, and how long does it take?

FBS will require you to send a valid government-issued ID like a passport or driver’s license to verify your account. The company will also ask you to provide a billing or bank statement to verify your identity and other credentials. 

It usually takes a couple of minutes for FBS to verify your account (KYC). However, you should at least wait a couple of days. In the event that a week has gone by and they still haven’t verified your account, contact their customer service so they can assist you in verifying your account. 

Available payment methods for deposit and withdrawals 

Visa, Neteller, Sticpay, Skrill, Perfect Money, and local exchangers are the payment options that may be used for the depositing and withdrawal of funds, respectively. The transaction is completed very immediately when you make your deposit using an electronic payment method. On the other hand, if you are using a different approach, this might take anywhere from one to two hours.

How to deposit money – The minimum deposit explained

The steps to deposit money into your FBS account are as follows:

1. Click on the deposit button on the finances tab of the trading platform’s workspace.
2. Pick your desired deposit method, choose whether it’s online or offline payment, and press the “Deposit” logo.
3. Choose which account you want to deposit funds to and enter the amount.
4. Check the details and confirm your deposit.

The minimum deposit required by FBS depends on your account type. For Cent and Crypto accounts, it’s $1. For Micro Accounts, it’s $5. For Standard accounts, it’s $100. For Zero Spread Accounts, it’s $500. For ECN accounts, it’s $1,000. 

Bonuses: Deposit bonus, cashback, start bonus, level up bonus

The current deposit bonus offered by FBS is 100% of the amount deposited. You will need to get in touch with their customer care and put in a request to get the bonus in order to take advantage of this offer. After successfully submitting a request, the bonus monies will be added to your balance very immediately after the request has been processed.

In addition, FBS provides a trading incentive referred to as the “Level Up” bonus. You will get an additional $70 if you trade Forex. If you make a profit while trading consistently for 20 days, you will advance to the next level. If you continue to level up, you have the opportunity to earn extra money worth up to $140.

Different FBS bonuses are available:

• Level up bonus
• Cashback bonus
• FBS trader cashback
• Quick start bonus
• Deposit bonus
• Different trading contests

Withdrawal – How to withdraw your money on FBS

The steps to withdraw money from your account are as follows:

1. Click on the withdrawal button in the finances tab found on your workspace or Personal area.
2. Choose your preferred withdrawal method and on “Withdraw.”
3. Choose the account you want to withdraw money from and fill out the form.
4. Input the amount you wish to withdraw and confirm your withdrawal slip. 

Furthermore, read our full FBS withdrawal tutorial.

Support for traders

Customer support is available 24/7 via phone, email, or live chat. The live chat feature can be found on the website. They are prompt in responding and very professional. You can call them at the contact number +357 25313540. To get in touch with them via email, send an email to [email protected]. 

Education material – How to learn trading with FBS

The FBS homepage has a section devoted to analysis, which contains various resources such as forex-related news and market updates. Additionally, a Forex TV function presents educational films, weekly analyses, and trading strategies. Along with rich instructional resources such as online webinars and tutorials, this broker offers additional features such as an economic calendar that can be accessed via the mobile app as well as FX calculators.

Additional fees 

All the fees that FBS charges are mentioned above in the trading conditions. The broker does not charge any other additional fees. However, when withdrawing or depositing funds, you may be charged a fee depending on your chosen method. Keep in mind, however, that FBS is not charging this fee. It’s the company or payment method that you used.

Available countries and forbidden countries

FBS is available in almost all countries including South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Hong Kong, and more.

However, FBS is not available to traders living in the United States of America, Myanmar, Canada, United Kingdom, Malaysia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Israel.

Conclusion of the review: FBS is a legit online broker for traders

FBS is a legit broker that is trusted globally. The broker is regulated by reputable regulatory agencies, and as a result, they provide the highest possible level of safety for all of their customers. The fact that FBS does not charge any extra fees further solidifies its position as the best possible broker.

But before you sign up, make sure to read the broker’s terms and conditions. It is fairly simple to get in touch with the customer care staff at FBS if you have any issues.

The main facts about this FBS review:

• Regulated and secure
• Spreads from 0,0 pips
• Over 6 asset classes
• MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader, mobile app
• Personal customer support
• Available in different languages
• High leverage available
• Fast deposits and withdrawals
• No requotes, instant execution!

Frequently asked questions: