FBS ESMA: Is FBS an ESMA broker?
FBS is one of the top-rated forex brokers in the industry. You can get the full lowdown by checking out our FBS Review.
It is also one of the best-regulated around. That is exactly what we will focus on here, specifically the FBS ESMA regulations in the EU. This includes a look at the key features of ESMA regulation for you as a trader, how it is implemented at FBS, and how you double-check everything yourself.
Let’s get started.
Is FBS an ESMA Broker?
FBS is an ESMA broker. They are regulated by CySEC under the number 331/17. They obtained this regulation on 07/08/2017.
To be an ESMA broker, FBS in fact, must be regulated by a European regulator. In this case, oversight comes from one of the most respected in the industry, CySEC.
As far as regulation goes, ESMA brokers have one of the best reputations when it comes to keeping a safe trading environment as a top priority.
| European Regulation | CySEC |
|---|---|
| Number of registration | 331/17 |
| Year of registration | 2017 |
| European Business Name | Traderstone Limited |
To get to know more about the broker’s regulatory environment and the protection on offer as an EU trader, feel free to visit the FBS website (74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money).
FBS ESMA: Leverage Differences and Features
Under ESMA regulations, the maximum leverage permitted is 30:1 in all ESMA countries. This applies to major forex pairs. Negative balance protection is also mandatory so you can never lose more than you deposit, and the use of segregated accounts is also required by the broker.
Within the EU, spread betting is not permitted, nor is binary options trading or the offering of FX bonuses including deposit bonuses. With that said, the IFSC (Non-EU) entity of FBS does offer some bonuses, but not to EU-based traders.
All of the above can also be verified by yourself by opening a demo account with FBS (74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money).
| Features | Traderstone Limited | FBS Markets Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Regulated by: | CySEC | IFSC |
| ESMA Protections | Yes | No |
| Segregated Bank Accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum Leverage on Forex | 1:30 (retail) | 1:3000 |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Forex Bonuses | No | Yes |
How to Double-Check the FBS ESMA License
You can quickly and conveniently double-check the ESMA regulation of FBS by first checking the business name of the broker. You will find this at the bottom of their website homepage.
From there, you simply need to go to the list of countries belonging to the ESMA Supervisory Authority and find the country in which the broker is regulated. In this case, it will be Cyprus. You can then go forward to enter the regulatory site of that country and input the broker registration number if you have it.
When you have completed that process you should have been able to find the FBS CySEC regulation page as shown in the image below.
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