Is Swissquote a Scam or Legit?
Swissquote holds a valid FINMA licence. The number is public and verifiable.
Swissquote is regulated under FINMA licence N/A, issued to Swissquote Bank Ltd. This licence appears in the FINMA public register. Swissquote has been operating since 1996 — 30 years. Scam operations do not maintain long-term regulated status.
The FINMA registration
| Regulator | FINMA |
| Licence number | N/A ✓ |
| Registered entity | Swissquote Bank Ltd |
| Status | Authorised |
| Register | brokerforexreviews.com |
| Years regulated | 30+ |
What FINMA regulation means for you
FINMA-regulated brokers must meet conduct and capital requirements set by the regulator. Client funds must be held separately from company funds.
All regulatory licences
Swissquote holds 4 regulatory licences across different jurisdictions. The entity that applies to your account depends on your country of residence.
| Regulator | Licence | Entity | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| FINMA | N/A | Swissquote Bank Ltd | 1:200 max |
| FCA | 562379 | Swissquote UK Ltd | 1:30 max |
| DFSA | F004885 | Swissquote MEA Ltd | 1:200 max |
| MAS | 200916272W | Swissquote Pte Ltd | 1:20 max |
How to verify Swissquote yourself
Go to brokerforexreviews.com. Enter the licence number N/A or search by entity name Swissquote Bank Ltd. The result should show the entity name, authorisation status, and the specific regulated activities it is permitted to conduct.
This takes under a minute. If a broker cannot be found on the relevant regulator's register, that is a serious warning sign. All legitimate regulated brokers appear there.
Common complaints and what they mean
Most complaints about Swissquote fall into standard categories: withdrawal processing times, spread widening during news events, and account verification requests. These are normal business practices, not indicators of fraud.
None of these patterns indicate fraud. They are the normal complaints of a commercial brokerage enforcing its terms. Real forex scams operate without any regulatory licence, refuse all withdrawals, and disappear with client funds. That is not the profile of Swissquote.
Red flags that would indicate a real scam
When researching any broker, watch for these genuine warning signs:
- No licence number listed, or a licence that cannot be found on the official register
- Pressure to deposit more money to unlock withdrawals
- Promises of guaranteed returns or "risk-free" trading
- Platform that only shows profits, never losses
- No physical address or contact information
- Licence from a regulator you have never heard of that has no official website
None of these apply to Swissquote. Its FINMA licence N/A is publicly verifiable, it has disclosed offices in Gland, Switzerland, and it has operated continuously since 1996.
Frequently asked questions
Is Swissquote safe to deposit money with?
Swissquote is FINMA-regulated and client funds are held in segregated accounts. Client funds are held separately from company funds as required by the regulator. This does not eliminate trading risk, but it protects funds from broker insolvency.
Why do people ask if Swissquote is a scam?
Most forex scam searches come from traders who lost money trading. CFD trading is high-risk — 68% of Swissquote retail clients lose money. Losing money on a legitimate platform does not make it a scam. Scams refuse all withdrawals and disappear. Swissquote has processed billions in withdrawals over 30 years of operation.
Is Swissquote regulated in my country?
Swissquote holds licences covering 4 countries across 4 regulatory jurisdictions. The entity serving your account depends on your country. Check the full licence table above to find which entity applies to your region.
What happens to my money if Swissquote goes bankrupt?
FINMA-regulated brokers must hold client funds in segregated bank accounts entirely separate from company operating funds. This means your deposits cannot be used to pay the broker's business creditors if it becomes insolvent.