Deposit Money Into Firstrade
Highlights:
• There are several ways to fund a Firstrade brokerage account.
• Money can be deposited by check, wire transfer, or ACH transfer.
• Assets can also be moved into Firstrade through ACATS or DTC transfers.
If you have a personal Firstrade trading account that needs to be funded, you have multiple methods to choose from. Some choices are faster than others, so it is useful to review the details below before selecting a deposit method.
Getting Ready
Log in to the Firstrade website and move your cursor over the Service tab in the top menu. From that menu, select “Fund Your Account.”
The next page explains the available funding choices. It also includes a short video for anyone who would rather watch a quick overview than read the instructions. This page explains how to connect a bank account, which is needed for some deposit methods. Additional terms and disclosures are also provided and should be reviewed before using any specific funding option.
Submitting a Cash Deposit Request
To submit a deposit online, hover over the Accounts tab in the same menu and choose “Deposit/Transfer.” This opens the digital form used for most funding methods, while the DTC option described later is handled through a different process.
Firstrade ACH Deposit
One funding method is Automated Clearing House (ACH). If you have a U.S. checking or savings account, you can move money into Firstrade electronically. On the request form, select “Electronic Funds (ACH)” and enter the required information, including the deposit amount. Review the details carefully before submitting the request.
If your bank account has not already been linked, you can connect it from the transfer page by clicking the blue “Bank Profile Setting” link. ACH must be set up with a U.S. bank account, and the bank account must meet Firstrade’s name and account-title requirements. Joint bank accounts linked to individual Firstrade accounts may require additional verification.
Not every account type is eligible for ACH funding. SIMPLE IRAs, SEP IRAs, ESAs, and investment club accounts are not eligible for ACH deposits.
ACH is a common funding choice, but it does come with a hold period. Firstrade may provide up to $1,000 in instant buying power while an initial ACH deposit is clearing, and the full deposit amount generally clears through the banking system in four to five business days.
Firstrade Wire Deposit
Wire deposits are available for trading once the funds are received. Firstrade often receives wires on the same business day, which makes this method useful when speed is important. On the same transfer page, choose the wire option to view the wiring instructions your bank will need. These instructions can also be downloaded as a PDF.
Paper Check
Firstrade accepts mailed paper checks as another deposit method. The mobile app does not support mobile check deposits. Checks should be made payable to Firstrade Securities, and your account number should be written on the memo line (include the IRA contribution year if applicable). Firstrade does not accept third-party checks, money orders, checks older than three months, double-endorsed checks, foreign checks, coin, or currency.
Funds deposited by check are generally available for trading five business days after Firstrade receives the check.
Special Note
Firstrade does not accept deposits from money transfer services such as Western Union, CurrencyFair, or PayPal.
Fees
Firstrade does not charge fees to receive deposits. However, the institution sending the funds may charge its own fee in certain cases. For example, wire transfers, ACATS transfers, and DTC transfers can involve fees at the sending firm. Firstrade has reimbursement offers for some qualifying wire and ACATS transfer fees.
Firstrade Review
Read detailed review of Firstrade account »
Updated on 4/24/2026.
Arthur Chachuna is a professional personal finance blogger, and the owner of Brokerage-Review.com.
He has been an avid investor for 25 years, and has a background in both applied math and programming.
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