Purchasing your shares through a CHESS Sponsored broker means YOU own the shares. There is a lot of confusion on the internet about CHESS-sponsored brokers with many trading platforms pretending to be CHESS sponsored. We’ve made it simple here’s our complete list of CHESS Sponsored brokers in 2021.
Amscot Stockbroking
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $11 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
ANZ
ANZ has a decent share trading platform starting at $19.95 per trade. They have no app support. They are relatively pricey compared to some of our other favourites. They do offer International trading.
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $19.95 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bell Direct
Bell Direct does offer a quality service with a full range of services and products, However, their prices are relatively high without receiving the excellent service of other larger brokers.
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $15 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bendigo Invest Direct
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $19.95 | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes |
CMC Markets*
CMC markets have both ownership models: CHESS and Issuer Sponsored, they also offer CFD trading. So ensure you’re choosing the right option for you.
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $11 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Commsec
Commsec is the most popular share trading platform in Australia, mostly due to its size. They are one of our top picks due to their excellent website, research and reasonable fees.
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
HSBC Online Share Trading
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $19.95 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Macquarie Online Trading
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $19.95 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Nabtrade
Nabtrade is one of our favourites. They have the most competitive brokerage fees amongst the big 4 banks. Their trading platform and available resources are also excellent.
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $14.95 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
OpenTrader
Opentrader offers an excellent service with very low brokerage fees for only $5 under $5,000.
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $5 | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Pearler
Pearler is one of our favourite new brokers. They have released a decent investment platform with excellent intentions. They are CHESS Sponsored and Low-cost. They also offer free trading on a range of ETFs. Check them out here: Pearler
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $9.95 | Yes | – | – | – | – |
Saxo Markets*
Saxo Markets uses both a CHESS Sponsored and Issuer Sponsored model, so ensure you’re choosing the right option for you.
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $6.99 | Yes | Yes |
Selfwealth
Selfwealth made it to the number one spot on our Favourite Brokers List. They have an easy-to-use share trading platform. SelfWeath has very low, flat fee trading at only $9.50 per trade. They also have some decent education and portfolio tracking tools.
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $9.95 | Yes | – | – | – | Yes |
Sequoia Direct
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $9.50 | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
St George Direct Shares
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $19.95 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Suncorp Share Trade
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $21.95 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ThinkMarkets*
Think markets also has CFD products so ensure you’re choosing the right option for you.
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $8 | Yes | – | – | – | – |
Westpac
Westpac lets Aussies execute fast trades on both the ASX and international markets. Trades can be made via desktop, phone or the Westpac Online Investing App. Their mobile app is excellent. They are relatively pricey compared to our other picks.
| Minimum Brokerage | Shares, ETFs, LICs | mFunds | Bonds | Warrants | ETOs |
| $19.95 | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
How to Know if my Shares Are CHESS Sponsored?
My CHESS Sponsored Brokers List will serve as a good starting point to see if a broker is CHESS Sponsored. If you’re unsure you can always contact your broker directly.
Shares that are CHESS Sponsored will be linked to your brokerage account via a HIN (Holder Identification Number). Here’s our article on How to Find My HIN.
A HIN is a 10 digit number beginning with an ‘X’.
If your shares are issuer sponsored they will instead have an SRN (Security Reference Number).
- A HIN, being Broker sponsored, commences with an ‘X’
- An SRN, being Issuer sponsored, commences with an ‘I’ or ‘C’
CHESS Sponsored Brokers List: What Is CHESS Sponsored?
When buying shares through a CHESS Sponsored broker it means the ASX has a record of you owning those shares directly. When you join one of these brokers you get given a HIN (Holder Identification Number), and the shares are then attached to you, via that number. You can have multiple numbers at multiple online brokers.
When you hold shares through a CHESS Sponsored broker it means YOU own them directly, rather than someone else holding them on your behalf. Some other brokers, operate under a custodian model, meaning that THEY hold the shares on your behalf.
There is a lot of misinformation on the internet about CHESS-sponsored brokers with many trading platforms pretending to be CHESS sponsored. This makes it difficult to find the right platform. Hence why I created this list.
Check Out Our Favorite Brokers
Thanks for reading our CHESS Sponsored Brokers List. If you’re interested in our favourites check out our article on the Best Share Trading Platforms Australia 2021.
Have I Missed Something
I set to make this list after realising how hard it is to figure out which Brokers are CHESS Sponsored. In order to make this list, I’ve had to discover and contact a lot of these brokers. If I’ve missed something off this list let me know here: [email protected]
Hear our Wins, Learn From our Mistakes
List of CHESS Sponsored Brokers
- Amscot Stockbroking
- ANZ
- Bell Direct
- Bendigo Invest Direct
- CMC Markets*
- Commsec
- HSBC Online Share Trading
- Macquarie Online Trading
- Nabtrade
- OpenTrader
- Pearler
- Saxo Markets* Both
- Selfwealth
- Sequoia Direct
- St George Direct Shares
- Suncorp Share Trade
- ThinkMarkets*
- Westpac
