(Update) Public Brokerage: Up To $10,000 Bonus

Update 12/18/24: Public just added support for IRAs too, and the bonus works for IRA transfers as well. Direct Link

Update 12/17/24: Offer is extended through 12/31/24

The Offer

Direct link to offer

• Public is offering a bonus of up to $10,000 depending on the amount you transfer in. Funds need to be kept in Public account for at least 12 months. Bonuses are as follows:
  • Transfer $5,000 and get a $150 bonus
  • Transfer $25,000 and get a $250 bonus
  • Transfer $100,000 and get a $600 bonus
  • Transfer $250,000 and get a $1,000 bonus
  • Transfer $500,000 and get a $2,000 bonus
  • Transfer $1,000,000 and get a $4,000 bonus
  • Transfer $5,000,000+ and get a $10,000 bonus

 

The Fine Print

• Cash bonus will be applied to qualifying accounts one (1) month after the transfer initiation date.
• Transferred funds must stay in your Public account for at least 12 months or bonus will be revoked.
• Valid for brokerage transfers and IRA transfers and IRA rollovers
• You may not be eligible for this promotion if you previously participated in a Public promotion and subsequently transferred all or substantially all of your funds out of Public.

Our Verdict

They also offer to cover the fees if your old brokerage charges those ACAT-out fees. There is a $75 transfer ACAT fee to transfer funds out if you end up leaving Public in the future (though it’s apparently only $25 if the transfer is to another APEX company). We’ll add this to list of best brokerage bonuses that are currently available.

Don’t forget about the $100 signup bonus for CLEAR members as well, details here.

Post History:

• Update 6/21/24: Extended until 6/30/24. Hold period now 12 months.
• Update 12/14/23: Still available through 12/31
• Update 8/1/23: Extended through 8/31/23.
• Update 2/1/23: Extended through 2/28/23. The $1m-$5m tier was lowered to $4,000, everything else the same as in January, see image below. (ht RiskandReward)
• Update 1/5/23: Bonus is still around through 1/31/23, but the bonus tiers are lower (ht Jay)
• Update 10/29/22: Tiers are changing from 11/1/22. In addition you’ll need to hold the funds for 9 months (previously 6 months).
• Update 9/15/22: End date of 12/31/22 has been added.
• A few updates 9/8/22 from Chuck:

1. Public covers the cost if there’s a charge to transfer from your current brokerage to Public, assuming at least $500 is transferred. Up to $100 max per ACAT transfer.
2. Also note, this bonus is for ACAT (account transfer) only, and cash transfers which do not use ACAT will not qualify. (See this post for some tips.)
3. This offer is even for existing Public customers. Thus, you can signup via the Swagbucks link and fund $5 to get a $16 bonus. Then start the transfer process to get the $150 – $10,000 bonus.
4. The bonus is reportedly posting quickly, just note that you need to leave the bonus funds in your Public account for the 6 month holding period as well.